Clause 8 - Trial by Special Tribunal
Northern Ireland (Offences) Bill
11:23 pm
Lorely Burt (Shadow Minister, Northern Ireland Affairs; Solihull, Liberal Democrat)
We have a great deal of sympathy with the sentiments behind the amendment. Much of what the victims’ families want is for someone to take responsibility for the death of their loved one, and to show some signs of remorse for it. I wonder, though, whether a forced expression of regret is the right way to go about that. Is there not a risk that someone will just say that they are sorry so that they can get a licence? Although I agree that an expression of sorrow and regret would no doubt help the victims, surely victims would want it to be genuine.