Anger Over Real IRA Compensation

The family of a convicted Real IRA man, who was murdered by his own paramilitary gang three years ago, are to be compensated.

Kieran Doherty, 31, was shot dead in Londonderry in February 2010.

On Monday, it was revealed Mr Doherty's mother and grandmother were awarded an undisclosed sum by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel.

Mr Doherty's family argued that claims made by police during the hearing, that their son was involved in drugs, did not stand up to scrutiny.

While the amount has not been revealed, Doherty's uncle, Vinnie Coyle, said it was "substantial."

He added: "The family are happy with the amount of cash.

"But what's more important to the family is, in their opinion, Kieran's name has been cleared because the PSNI evidence and the evidence that the PSNI produced on behalf of MI5 and the security services did not stand up to very, very close scrutiny."

However, the decision has been met with anger by unionists.

Ulster Unionist MLA Tom Elliott said he was "sickened" by the decision, stating that compensation should be awarded on a fair basis.

He said: "Kieran Doherty made his own choices in life and one of them was to join the Real IRA, a gang of cowards who murdered 29 men, women and children in Omagh including a woman pregnant with unborn twins. The terrorist group have continued to murder more innocent people since then.

"To hear that Mr Doherty's family are now to receive compensation following his death beggars belief and sickens me and many others. It is absolutely wrong and is a slap in the face to the victims of terrorism.

"I have every sympathy with the Doherty Family on their personal loss, but that does not warrant compensation for the death of a terrorist.

"When you consider that the families of murdered security force members and other murdered innocents received a pittance in the past, then this type of payment to a murdered terrorist's family sets a very unjust precedent and sends out the wrong message."

(JP/CD)