THE family of a former republican prisoner seriously injured in a loyalist gun attack has delivered a letter to the secretary of state over the British government's position on the Trouble's pension scheme.
Christy Cummings from Cookstown in Co Tyrone, who is confined to a wheelchair, travelled to Stormont to hand the letter to Brandon Lewis yesterday.
However, it is claimed that minutes before it was due to be delivered, an Northern Ireland Office official contacted the family to say no-one was available to receive it due to staff being furloughed.
The letter was later handed to a security man.
A political row erupted earlier this month over delays in introducing a pension for victims of the Troubles after Sinn Féin failed to nominated the Department of Justice to oversee the scheme.
Republicans believe the guidelines go beyond what is in the legislation and say they discriminate against ex-prisoners who were injured during the Troubles.
Mr Cummings served almost 11 years behind bars for an offence he says he did not commit and is now confined to a wheelchair after being shot by loyalists in 1997.
His case is currently being considered by the Criminal Case Review Commission.
He said he and his family believe they are being victimised.
“We feel as if we are being left behind and that we are being victimised and discriminated against,” he said.
His son Ruairi said “daddy was not in a combat situation, he was standing there an innocent victim.
“They are playing God with victims."
He also expressed disappointment that no-one was available to take the letter.
“It has left daddy emotionally distraught,” he said.
The family was accompanied to Stormont by Relatives For Justice chief executive Mark Thompson, their solicitor Niall Murphy and Sinn Féin West Belfast MLA Pat Sheehan.
Mr Thompson appealed to politicians and Mr Lewis to address the issue.
Meanwhile, Aontú councillor Denise Mullen, whose father was shot dead by the loyalist Glenanne Gang, which included members of the RUC, UDR and UVF, has said all victims should be entitled to a pension.
