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EXCLUSIVE The 'useful idiots' in the Prime Minister's ranks who blew up the law to prevent the hounding of veterans
EXCLUSIVE The 'useful idiots' in the Prime Minister's ranks who blew up the law to prevent the hounding of veterans

Daily Mail​

time2 days ago

  • Politics
  • Daily Mail​

EXCLUSIVE The 'useful idiots' in the Prime Minister's ranks who blew up the law to prevent the hounding of veterans

A former Conservative minister has described military veterans in the Labour Party as 'useful idiots' after they tore up his law to protect soldiers. Johnny Mercer, the architect of the Legacy Act, took aim at the former troops who have left Northern Ireland veterans exposed. The former Veterans Minister brought in the first legislation to shield service personnel from historical witch hunts. Mr Mercer, who served in Afghanistan, blamed veterans who joined the Labour Party for undoing his work. The current Veterans Minister is Al Carns, a former Royal Marines officer. Action to remove protections for troops has happened on his watch. Yesterday, the Mail launched a campaign to stop the betrayal of British troops hounded by the threat of legal action decades after their service. The newspaper is demanding ministers U-turn on their bid to repeal the Legacy Act or produce a proper alternative. Last night, a petition calling for the protections of Northern Ireland veterans had reached just under 150,000 signatures. There will be a full parliamentary debate on the issue on July 14. It comes as former SAS soldiers face possible murder charges after a judge in Northern Ireland ruled the shooting of four IRA terrorists in 1992 was unlawful. Yesterday, the Mail's campaign received fulsome backing from MPs, including Sir David Davis and Tory defence spokesman Mark Francois. Last night Mr Mercer, who is no longer an MP, said: 'Veterans in the Labour Party should hang their heads in shame. 'They have become modern day useful idiots in a party determined to shout about veteran credentials then roll back all the important advances made by the previous government. 'None more so than legislation to protect our people from vexatious prosecutions in Northern Ireland. I made promises to veterans and I kept them. It took almost ten years. To repeal what we fought so hard for is frankly unconscionable. The hounding of these veterans is fundamentally unjust. So we kept going to produce the Legacy Act. 'I am proud of that and I fully support what the Mail is doing to ensure soldiers are protected.' The Labour manifesto at last year's general election included a pledge to repeal the 'unlawful' act. This followed a ruling by a court in Northern Ireland on clauses in the act providing conditional immunity from prosecutions for Troubles-era crimes. The act also introduced a ban on inquests and future civil actions related to the same period. In February 2024, the High Court in Belfast found these were in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights. Article 2 of the ECHR places an investigative duty on the state where its agents may have been involved in causing death or serious injury. In such circumstances, countries that are signatories to the convention are obliged to conduct an effective and independent investigation. In parliament yesterday Mr Francois said: 'The present Labour government intends to use a Remedial Act to remove key provisions within the Act. 'This will open the endless cycle of investigation and re-investigation, often by coronial inquests. This policy is a disaster for recruitment and retention and we vigorously oppose it. In that context, we warmly welcome the Daily Mail's campaign, launched this morning, to defend our veterans.' Mr Francois, who served as a defence minister in a previous Conservative government also quoted the Mail's editorial which said it was 'profoundly unfair that frail ex-servicemen will continue to live in dread of a knock on the door by the authorities, while IRA murderers sleep easily, with letters of immunity handed to them by Tony Blair'. In the same debate, Sir David said: 'This is not just about Special Forces, it is about all of the armed forces. There are about 20 inquests into actions by government agencies that could be restarted after the end of the legacy legislation. 'If we continue down this path we will betray our past and jeopardise our future. The Mail's campaign has received fulsome backing from MPs, including Sir David Davis and Tory defence spokesman Mark Francois 'This campaign of persecution sends a chilling message to the next generation: serve your country, risk your life and face prosecution in your old age. Why would any young man or woman sign up for that.' The case at the centre of the campaign involved 12 SAS soldiers facing possible murder charges over the 1992 shooting of four IRA terrorists. Police concluded at the time there should be no prosecutions. But earlier this year a coroner ruled their use of force was excessive, despite the terrorists being armed with a heavy machine gun and other weapons. Files have been passed to the Director of Public Prosecutions in Northern Ireland. A move which could trigger a criminal investigation. Last night, the Northern Ireland Secretary, Hilary Benn, said: 'The Legacy Act has been found by our domestic courts to be unlawful. 'Any incoming government would have to repeal unlawful legislation and it is wrong for anyone to suggest otherwise. 'The Defence Secretary and I are engaging with our veterans community and with all interested parties over future legislation and we will ensure there are far better protections in place. 'We owe it to all who were affected by the Troubles across the United Kingdom to be honest about the unworkability of the Legacy Act and to get this new legislation right.'

Stop Labour's betrayal of our SAS heroes: Ex-Special Forces chiefs and MPs demand veterans who battled IRA are protected from prosecution
Stop Labour's betrayal of our SAS heroes: Ex-Special Forces chiefs and MPs demand veterans who battled IRA are protected from prosecution

Daily Mail​

time3 days ago

  • Politics
  • Daily Mail​

Stop Labour's betrayal of our SAS heroes: Ex-Special Forces chiefs and MPs demand veterans who battled IRA are protected from prosecution

SAS veterans are being hounded with the threat of prosecution decades after their service thanks to a shameful betrayal by Labour. The Mail today launches a major campaign with ex-Special Forces commanders and senior MPs to protect the soldiers who bravely defended this country. We are demanding that ministers U-turn on their bid to repeal the Tories ' Legacy Act, which shielded Northern Ireland veterans from historical 'witch hunts', or else produce a proper alternative. It comes as former SAS soldiers face possible murder charges after a judge in Northern Ireland ruled that the shooting of four IRA terrorists in 1992 was not justified. Those behind the campaign have warned of a dire threat to national security if this process is permitted to continue. One ex-SAS commanding officer said ministers had to wake up to the need to protect serving and retired personnel from 'this creeping lawfare' or it would prove 'calamitous' by hobbling operations and hitting recruitment. The campaign has already generated £250,000 in fighting funds in a single donation from ex-SAS soldier-turned-entrepreneur Sir Mike Gooley, founder of travel company Trailfinders. A petition on the Parliament website demanding protection for Northern Ireland veterans has, meanwhile, reached 136,290 signatures, meaning a parliamentary debate will be held on July 14. The campaign team includes two former SAS commanding officers and a Regimental Sergeant Major. Other senior soldiers involved in the call for action served in undercover roles and faced being murdered by IRA terrorists every time they deployed. The political dimension of the campaign is being led by Conservative MP Sir David Davis, a former SAS reservist. He said last night: 'What we have seen so far has been a travesty of justice. This is not just about those who served in Northern Ireland. 'It is about giving protection and certainty to the entire Armed Forces family. Our veterans deserve our respect, not relentless legal pursuit decades after the events in question.' At a press conference at the Nato summit in The Hague, the Mail yesterday asked Keir Starmer why he was opening veterans up to a possible legal witch hunt by repealing the legislation. The PM replied: 'I worked in Northern Ireland for five years so I know just how important and significant these issues are. We are in talks and discussions about how we resolve this issue.' SAS veterans have suffered emotional trauma from their hounding by lawyers. This included a suicide attempt by a former Special Forces soldier last year. Former SAS Regimental Sergeant Major George Simm said: 'As a result of these evidence-free accusations, soldiers are realising they have no legal rights. This has to change, out of necessity, for national security reasons. They have never been so exposed. 'On operations, to be compliant with the Human Rights Act, soldiers need their own lawyer on speed dial to advise them if there's a chance they might have to kill someone. The situation is beyond absurd. Soldiers didn't sign up to defend activist judges or a European legal system.' The case at the centre of the campaign involves the 1992 shooting of four IRA terrorists by SAS soldiers in Clonoe, County Tyrone. Following a police investigation and inquiries by the coroner, the RUC concluded at the time that there should be no prosecutions. The soldiers stated their use of lethal force was reasonable due to the threat posed by the IRA. However, last year they were ordered to appear before a new 'legacy inquest'. Coroner Mr Justice Humphreys ruled in February the soldiers' use of force was excessive, despite the terrorists having a heavy machine-gun and other guns. He claimed there was no attempt to arrest the four IRA men and determined, more than 30 years after the incident, that the soldiers should have waited for the IRA gang to disassemble the machine gun. The Ministry of Defence has vowed to challenge his verdict. But in the meantime, files have been passed to the Director of Public Prosecutions in Northern Ireland. This could trigger a criminal investigation. Last night, former SAS CO Aldwin Wight said it was absurd that the soldiers who confronted the IRA at Clonoe 'should have to face the possibility of criminal action based on a subsequent flawed inquest three decades later, under a law that didn't exist in 1992.' He said it 'will prove calamitous for national security. Nobody is going to volunteer to expose themselves to this sort of legal nonsense. 'When are ministers going to wake up to the need to protect serving and retired personnel from this creeping lawfare?' Relatives of the IRA terrorists brought the 'legacy inquest' citing Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights and the 1998 Human Rights Act. The previous Tory government brought in the Legacy Act to protect Northern Ireland veterans from prosecution and endless investigations. But Labour's manifesto included a pledge to repeal the 'unlawful' Act. The Northern Ireland Office has pledged to replace it 'in a way that is lawful, fair and that enables families, including military families, to find answers'.

MoD obliged to preserve records relating to Troubles for next 10 years
MoD obliged to preserve records relating to Troubles for next 10 years

The Independent

time3 days ago

  • Politics
  • The Independent

MoD obliged to preserve records relating to Troubles for next 10 years

The Ministry of Defence has been obliged to preserve records relating to the Troubles in Northern Ireland for the next 10 years. It is believed to cover some 50,000 documents relating to Operation Banner, and comes after a request by lawyers for the family of a teenage girl killed in Londonderry in 1971. Annette McGavigan, 14, was killed during unrest in Derry on September 6. She was said to have been playing with a friend when she was shot dead. Her family has been campaigning for decades for answers and justice. There is a mural in her memory in the Bogside area of the city. Last year, Northern Ireland's Attorney General Dame Brenda King granted a fresh inquest into Miss McGavigan's death, but that came just before the former Government's Legacy Act deadline which halted all inquests which had not reached their final stages. It also followed a decision by the Public Prosecution Service not to prosecute a former soldier in relation to the teenager's death. Miss McGavigan's family has expressed hope that the current Labour Government will honour the fresh inquests directed by the Attorney General before the cut-off date in April 2024. It is understood that there are some 22 inquests relating to more than 40 deaths in Northern Ireland still outstanding, with some other previously unallocated legacy inquests also due to be honoured. Patricia Coyle, solicitor for Miss McGavigan's family, said they have secured a Preservation Order for the MoD documents for a further period of 10 years to 2035. They wrote to the MoD, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (SSCMS) in April to request an extension of an existing Preservation Order for all MoD Operation Banner documents dating from August 1969 to July 2007. The 2014 order listed the documents to be preserved as including 'operational briefs and summaries, log sheets, patrol and incident reports from Operation Banner in Northern Ireland'. Miss Gavigan's family said they want to ensure that the MoD continues to preserve all Army documents relating to Operation Banner for the period 1969 to 2007 so that they, and other families seeking information in legacy cases, can access relevant state materials for the purposes of future legacy inquests, civil actions and public inquiries. Ms Coyle said the Preservation Order is of the utmost importance to all families seeking answers over incidents involving the Army during the Troubles. 'In 2015, my clients sought the preservation of all relevant MoD documents relating to British Army's activities in Northern Ireland from 1969 to 2007,' she said. 'In particular they wished to secure the preservation of all Army documents relating to the killing of their 14-year-old sister Annette on September 6 1971 in Derry so these are available for the fresh inquest they achieved last year.' She said the first Preservation Order for these documents was granted in December 2014 for 10 years. 'The legal obligation to preserve 50,000 Army records relating to Northern Ireland was transferred from the Lord Chancellor to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport (SSCMS) in 2015,' she said. 'In April, this year our clients sought a further Preservation Order from the MoD, Lord Chancellor and SSCMS. Lawyers acting on behalf of the Ministry of Defence have now confirmed that a further 10-year Preservation Order was signed by SSCMS on May 6 2025. 'The preservation of these records is of paramount importance for all families in Northern Ireland who seek access to information and truth about the killing of their loved ones in cases involving the Army.'

MoD obliged to preserve records relating to Troubles for next 10 years
MoD obliged to preserve records relating to Troubles for next 10 years

North Wales Chronicle

time3 days ago

  • Politics
  • North Wales Chronicle

MoD obliged to preserve records relating to Troubles for next 10 years

It is believed to cover some 50,000 documents relating to Operation Banner, and comes after a request by lawyers for the family of a teenage girl killed in Londonderry in 1971. Annette McGavigan, 14, was killed during unrest in Derry on September 6. She was said to have been playing with a friend when she was shot dead. Her family has been campaigning for decades for answers and justice. There is a mural in her memory in the Bogside area of the city. Last year, Northern Ireland's Attorney General Dame Brenda King granted a fresh inquest into Miss McGavigan's death, but that came just before the former Government's Legacy Act deadline which halted all inquests which had not reached their final stages. It also followed a decision by the Public Prosecution Service not to prosecute a former soldier in relation to the teenager's death. Miss McGavigan's family has expressed hope that the current Labour Government will honour the fresh inquests directed by the Attorney General before the cut-off date in April 2024. It is understood that there are some 22 inquests relating to more than 40 deaths in Northern Ireland still outstanding, with some other previously unallocated legacy inquests also due to be honoured. Patricia Coyle, solicitor for Miss McGavigan's family, said they have secured a Preservation Order for the MoD documents for a further period of 10 years to 2035. They wrote to the MoD, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (SSCMS) in April to request an extension of an existing Preservation Order for all MoD Operation Banner documents dating from August 1969 to July 2007. The 2014 order listed the documents to be preserved as including 'operational briefs and summaries, log sheets, patrol and incident reports from Operation Banner in Northern Ireland'. Miss Gavigan's family said they want to ensure that the MoD continues to preserve all Army documents relating to Operation Banner for the period 1969 to 2007 so that they, and other families seeking information in legacy cases, can access relevant state materials for the purposes of future legacy inquests, civil actions and public inquiries. Ms Coyle said the Preservation Order is of the utmost importance to all families seeking answers over incidents involving the Army during the Troubles. 'In 2015, my clients sought the preservation of all relevant MoD documents relating to British Army's activities in Northern Ireland from 1969 to 2007,' she said. 'In particular they wished to secure the preservation of all Army documents relating to the killing of their 14-year-old sister Annette on September 6 1971 in Derry so these are available for the fresh inquest they achieved last year.' She said the first Preservation Order for these documents was granted in December 2014 for 10 years. 'The legal obligation to preserve 50,000 Army records relating to Northern Ireland was transferred from the Lord Chancellor to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport (SSCMS) in 2015,' she said. 'In April, this year our clients sought a further Preservation Order from the MoD, Lord Chancellor and SSCMS. Lawyers acting on behalf of the Ministry of Defence have now confirmed that a further 10-year Preservation Order was signed by SSCMS on May 6 2025. 'The preservation of these records is of paramount importance for all families in Northern Ireland who seek access to information and truth about the killing of their loved ones in cases involving the Army.'

MoD obliged to preserve records relating to Troubles for next 10 years
MoD obliged to preserve records relating to Troubles for next 10 years

Glasgow Times

time3 days ago

  • Politics
  • Glasgow Times

MoD obliged to preserve records relating to Troubles for next 10 years

It is believed to cover some 50,000 documents relating to Operation Banner, and comes after a request by lawyers for the family of a teenage girl killed in Londonderry in 1971. Annette McGavigan, 14, was killed during unrest in Derry on September 6. She was said to have been playing with a friend when she was shot dead. Her family has been campaigning for decades for answers and justice. There is a mural in her memory in the Bogside area of the city. Martin McGavigan and his daughter Maria McGavigan have been campaigning for answers around the death of Annette McGavigan in Derry in 1971 (Ashlee Ruggels/PA) Last year, Northern Ireland's Attorney General Dame Brenda King granted a fresh inquest into Miss McGavigan's death, but that came just before the former Government's Legacy Act deadline which halted all inquests which had not reached their final stages. It also followed a decision by the Public Prosecution Service not to prosecute a former soldier in relation to the teenager's death. Miss McGavigan's family has expressed hope that the current Labour Government will honour the fresh inquests directed by the Attorney General before the cut-off date in April 2024. It is understood that there are some 22 inquests relating to more than 40 deaths in Northern Ireland still outstanding, with some other previously unallocated legacy inquests also due to be honoured. Patricia Coyle, solicitor for Miss McGavigan's family, said they have secured a Preservation Order for the MoD documents for a further period of 10 years to 2035. They wrote to the MoD, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (SSCMS) in April to request an extension of an existing Preservation Order for all MoD Operation Banner documents dating from August 1969 to July 2007. The 2014 order listed the documents to be preserved as including 'operational briefs and summaries, log sheets, patrol and incident reports from Operation Banner in Northern Ireland'. Miss Gavigan's family said they want to ensure that the MoD continues to preserve all Army documents relating to Operation Banner for the period 1969 to 2007 so that they, and other families seeking information in legacy cases, can access relevant state materials for the purposes of future legacy inquests, civil actions and public inquiries. Ms Coyle said the Preservation Order is of the utmost importance to all families seeking answers over incidents involving the Army during the Troubles. 'In 2015, my clients sought the preservation of all relevant MoD documents relating to British Army's activities in Northern Ireland from 1969 to 2007,' she said. 'In particular they wished to secure the preservation of all Army documents relating to the killing of their 14-year-old sister Annette on September 6 1971 in Derry so these are available for the fresh inquest they achieved last year.' She said the first Preservation Order for these documents was granted in December 2014 for 10 years. 'The legal obligation to preserve 50,000 Army records relating to Northern Ireland was transferred from the Lord Chancellor to the Secretary of State for Culture, Media, and Sport (SSCMS) in 2015,' she said. 'In April, this year our clients sought a further Preservation Order from the MoD, Lord Chancellor and SSCMS. Lawyers acting on behalf of the Ministry of Defence have now confirmed that a further 10-year Preservation Order was signed by SSCMS on May 6 2025. 'The preservation of these records is of paramount importance for all families in Northern Ireland who seek access to information and truth about the killing of their loved ones in cases involving the Army.'

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