LONDON (Reuters) – Libya will fight any claims for compensation by the families of people killed by Irish republican bombs they say were made using Libyan-supplied explosives, the son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi said.
Saif al-Islam said Libya would contest any such cases in the courts, putting him at odds with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown who said he would support the compensation claims.
“Anybody can knock at our door and ask for money. But you go to the court, we have lawyers,” Saif told Sky News.”
British lawyer Jason McCue, who represents the families of Irish Republican Army (IRA) victims, said he was prepared to take the compensation claims to court, but hoped a deal could be reached without legal action.
“Everyone realises in litigation that a settlement is the best way to go and I am sure Libya will realise that is the best way for Anglo-Libyan relations,” he told BBC radio.
The families say they have evidence that Libyan-supplied explosives were used in a string of IRA attacks, including the 1987 blast at a Remembrance Day service that killed 11 people in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, the Sunday Times reported.
