Paisley: '˜Treating perpetrators of violence during troubles as victims is like saying Hitler was victim of WW2'

The North Antrim MP queried the definition of victimhood at a recent meeting of the Northern Ireland Affairs Comittee at Westminster.

Judith Thompson, the Commissioner for Victims and Survivors had been called to give evidence and explain what the Commission has done, and is hoping to do in the future.

Ian Paisley expressed concerns about ‘treating some perpetrators and victims in the same way’.

He felt this would lead to a re-writing of history and somehow ‘legitimise the wrong actions of some’.

Mr Paisley continued: “it’s almost like saying Adolf Hitler was a victim of the war, because he died during the war when he was a perpetrator of that war.”

Mr Paisley urged caution and called for people to be ‘distinct’ and to make a differentiation between ‘people who were wrong’ and innocent victims.

Ms Thompson stressed that the Oral History Archive is there to establish fact and to give voice to different narratives.

She also encouraged anyone who feels their history is being re-written to engage in the process in order to ensure that all narratives are heard.