SAS heroes are the latest victims of a legal witch hunt – 40 years after serving in Northern Ireland.
About 10 special forces veterans face investigation and possible trial over the Troubles.
Members of the Who Dares Wins unit undertook high-risk undercover missions to fight terrorists in the region.
MP Johnny Mercer, pictured, who was fired as Veterans Minister after criticising the Government for not protecting soldiers, said: “We are ruining people’s lives.” While one SAS veteran of the conflict said: “My colleagues and I risked our lives on a daily basis. Forty-odd years later as a ‘thank you’, the state is hounding us for doing our duty and helping protect the innocent.”
Boris Johnson has often pledged to stop “vexatious” prosecutions of ex-soldiers. But laws safeguarding troops on foreign operations do not cover those on Operation Banner, the deployment in Northern Ireland from 1969 to 2007.
Legislation to address the issue has been delayed and there are claims that the Government fears provoking Republican Sinn Fein.
A senior source said yesterday: “Decisions about charging veterans are being made at the moment. There are a number of cases involving individuals from a number of different units, one of which is the SAS.
“If the Government fails to honour its promise to protect these veterans, you will see a slow trickle of these men going to trial.”
Rusty Firmin, who served with the SAS in Northern Ireland in the 1970s and 1980s, said: “I know personally some of the SAS and [special forces] lads that are being and have been pursued.
この記事は Daily Express の May 20, 2021 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Daily Express の May 20, 2021 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Slo torture as Brits waste a golden chance to end hoodoo
BOULTER RUNS OUT OF GAS AND TEAM LOSE THEIR WAY
BY EDDIE DID ME A FAVOUR HAVING A GO
Ollie changed after Jones attacked his 'bad attitude'
HILL DOESN'T TOP BILL
NICKY HENDERSON insisted there is \"nothing wrong' with Constitution Hill after his stable superstar was deposed as Champion Hurdle favourite yesterday.
THE ALTERNATIVE UNDERTAKER
From clifftop ceremonies to campervan-driven vigils and funeral pyres, Rupert Callender s revolutionising the 'bad theatre' that characterises the business of death in modern Britain
Cock-a-doodle-don't!
Residents have sleep shattered by bird's noisy 3am squawking
Mission to revive boxer pupfish after zoo finds it has the only one left
A ZOO is spearheading a conservation effort to save a rare fish species from extinction - after discovering it had the last remaining boxer pupfish.
'I'll never forget the horror in my dying husband's eyes'
A WIDOW who watched her husband choke to death due to cancer says she will never forget the look of horror in his eyes.
Gisele blasts the 'cowards' accused.of her many rapes
A FRENCHWOMAN who was sexually violated by scores of men after her husband drugged her called them all \"cowards\" yesterday as she gave evidence for the last time.
5,000 calories per day and no nature documentaries
Rev Richard Coles on lax pre-jungle routine
A criminal abuse of 'Stasi' police powers Pictures: GETTY
THE SINGLE most appalling aspect of the Allison Pearson story is that she was not told of what exactly she was accused.
