Political prosecutions of veterans may be pointless - but so is an amnesty
It s time for the government to show real clarity when deciding how to protect those who served in Northern Ireland
27 April 2021 • 3:47pm
The calls for immunity from prosecution, in line with the Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill for NI veterans, are at the heart of the issue that saw Jonny Mercer MP resign as Veterans Minister. Citing the government’s alleged reneging on election promises, Jonny Mercer is in Belfast this week to lend support to two former Paratroopers charged with a historic allegation of murder. Whilst I strongly agree that vexatious prosecutions pursued for purely political reasons should be stopped, I am against an amnesty. I believe that our servicemen should be held to the highest standards and believe that at the same time an amnesty would play directly into Sinn Fein’s hands.