AN independent assessor from a legal background is to be appointed to advance a compensation campaign by victims of Libyan-sponsored IRA violence, politicians in Northern Ireland have said.

The work would include assessing how many people could potentially qualify and what levels of redress should be requested.

The bereaved and injured are pressing for UK Government support for their bid for compensation paid out of the large number of frozen assets seized from the toppled Gaddafi administration.

Dictator Muammar Gaddafi armed the Provisionals with massive amounts of weaponry, extending the Northern Ireland conflict and causing enormous human suffering, MPs have said.

These included the Warrington bombing on Bridge Street in 1993, bombings at a Remembrance Day ceremony in Enniskillen in 1987, Warrington in 1993, Harrods in 1983 and London's Docklands in 1996.

Speaking last month, Wendy Parry, whose son Tim was killed in the Bridge Street bombing 25 years ago, said: “I do feel sorry for the thousands of victims who have been left disabled or bereaved.

"The Governments of the USA, France and Germany negotiated multimillion-pound settlements with Gaddafi and ours did nothing.

"The previous Labour government didn’t really want to know but it has been ongoing for many years and victims of the IRA attacks feel they have been forgotten.

"The support victims get today is considerably better than the support of 25 years ago, hence why Colin and I set up The Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Peace Foundation”.

This week marks the 35th anniversary of the IRA bombing at London store Harrods where six people were killed and 90 injured.

The campaign by victims of IRA blasts using Libyan Semtex plastic explosives has been running for years.

The DUP and Ulster Unionists met Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt this week.

The Foreign Office said it would be writing to MPs to set out the next steps.

UUP peer Sir Reg Empey welcomed the progress.

"This is all very complicated and delicate work, but is necessary to move things forward."

South Belfast DUP MP Emma Little-Pengelly added: "There was some positive news in the meeting and a step forward for the campaign.

"Mr Hunt agreed to draw up terms of reference for the appointment of an independent person who would work with closely with the Government and with victims to advance the campaign."

Jonathan Ganesh, president of the Docklands Victims Association, said: "We are very pleased that finally after years of campaigning for equality the UK Government appeared to have made a meaningful commitment to the victims of Gaddafi/IRA terrorism.

"It was undoubtedly the worst moment in the UK history as the UK, France and German governments fought for their victims and we were abandoned by our government.

"Hopefully we will rectify this appalling injustice that devalued the life of every UK citizen."