Labour accused of allowing terrorists to ‘rewrite history’ with nine new cases set to be brought against British army veterans
Labor accused of allowing IRA terrorists to ‘rewrite history’ after it was revealed former paramilitaries could sit on the veterans board; Nine new lawsuits are set to be filed against British army veterans.
Ministers faced backlash from veterans following the repeal of the Succession Act, a Conservative law that gave soldiers immunity from prosecution.
The law required new evidence to be brought to court to revive Troubles-era trials that lasted from the 60s to 1998. Labour’s decision to scrap these protections sparked outrage, with critics warning it would subject veterans to waves of politically motivated investigations.
Labor insists its alternative would create a ‘fair and transparent system’ that would help heal the wounds of the Troubles.
However, new information revealed by the Mail on Sunday further raises doubts about these claims.
It has now been revealed that IRA terrorists may be allowed to take part in a ‘Victims and Survivors Advisory Group’ which aims to ‘raise awareness’ for veterans of ‘issues affecting victims and survivors of our troubled past’. Labor claims this will give those affected by conflict a ‘strong, independent voice’.
However, in their answers to Parliamentary questions, Ministers admitted that known terrorists could be involved in the process. Angry critics said their inclusion would ‘make a mockery of everything’; this was originally intended to ensure that veterans of the conflict had the ‘right to be heard’.
This led the Conservative candidate, David Davis, to say that Labor was ‘a willing accomplice in the IRA’s efforts to rewrite history’.
Labor accused of allowing IRA terrorists to ‘rewrite history’ after it was revealed former paramilitaries could sit on the veterans board; Nine new lawsuits are set to be filed against British army veterans. Picture: The aftermath of the IRA bomb that destroyed the Baltic Exchange in London in April 1992
Shadow Defense Secretary James Cartlidge also condemned the move. He said this new development was ‘another betrayal of our veterans’ and would ‘open the floodgates of politically motivated allegations’.
It comes as Irish Republicans, emboldened by Labour’s repeal of the Inheritance Act, vowed to take more cases to court in a relentless pursuit of army veterans.
These fears were confirmed when it was revealed in yesterday’s Daily Mail that 24 new charges would be brought against SAS veterans over an investigation into an IRA attack in Loughgall in 1987.
These 24 cases are in addition to nine other new cases scheduled to go to trial under new laws that will reopen investigations stalled under old Tory laws.
Speculation is now growing that each of these new cases will target British Army veterans. This is something Labor has repeatedly failed to deny, despite the many opportunities Cartlidge has asked in Parliamentary questions.
When pressed on the issue, Northern Ireland Minister Hilary Benn dodged the question. Instead of giving a direct answer he said: ‘That’s just right [cases] affected families are interviewed before being brought back to court.
A furious Davis added: ‘It will be our loyal, patriotic and brave soldiers who act on behalf of the Crown to defend our democracy against evil rebels who will pay the price. And the only people who will benefit from this will be the IRA.’
More than 200,000 people have signed an online petition against Labour’s removal of protections for Northern Ireland veterans.
These shocking new revelations will only add to mounting criticism of Labour’s mishandling of Troubles-era legislation.
