Outrage at Labour deal that could see more Ulster veterans on trial

Veterans branded a new Troubles deal between Britain and Ireland a 'betrayal' after it emerged it could pave the way for more soldiers who served in Northern Ireland to be hauled through the courts.

The new 'framework', announced at Hillsborough Castle, near Belfast, by Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn and Irish Tanaiste (deputy prime minister) Simon Harris, follows on from Labour's commitment to repeal the Conservatives' 2023 Legacy Act.

The Tories' legislation, introduced by then veterans' minister Johnny Mercer, halted scores of civil cases and inquests and offered conditional immunity for those accused of Troubles crimes in exchange for co-operation with a new truth recovery body. But it was declared unlawful by the High Court in Belfast, last November.

Former Lance Corporal Soldier F, currently on trial for his involvement in the notorious 1972 Bloody Sunday killings in Londonderry, was charged prior to the 2023 Act.

The agreement with the Irish government, following nine months of negotiations, ends immunity for terrorists – infamously offered by the Blair government to 187 pro-IRA figures – and puts in place six 'protections and rights' for veterans. But it ends their immunity, too.

Soldiers who are now in their 60s and 70s could face fresh inquiries leading to criminal charges decades after the events in question.

Ex-SAS reservist and Tory backbencher Sir David Davis described the move as a path to 'victory for the IRA'.

Meanwhile Paul Young, a former member of the Blues and Royals who works with the Northern Ireland Veterans Movement, called the plans a 'betrayal of those who served with honour during the Troubles and a distortion of justice for victims of terrorism'.

Former Tory MP and Army captain Mr Mercer told the Daily Mail it was 'hard to watch this Government steadily walk back every gain I made for veterans over the previous five years'.

Tory defence spokesman James Cartlidge said: 'Labour's announcement opens the floodgates to a new wave of vexatious legal action against our veterans, threatening the Army's morale just as we face the most profound military threats since the Cold War.'

Yesterday's announcement came as a bitter blow to veterans who wanted an end to persecutions over operations against terrorists decades ago. A number of new inquests, which had been stopped under the previous legislation, will now go ahead and civil cases can also be reopened.

Cases which could be examined include a daring SAS mission to prevent IRA troops targeting the Loughgall police station in 1987.

Eight terrorists were killed by troops who stopped a digger truck carrying explosives in its bucket. Afterwards, republican groups complained the terrorists had not been given sufficient opportunity to surrender.

Such cases are at the centre of the Daily Mail's Stop The SAS Betrayal campaign to improve human rights for soldiers. More than 200,000 people have signed a petition calling for veterans to be protected from persecution.

David Davis said: 'One such inquest will likely concern the events at Loughgall. If that happens, it will be read as a victory for the IRA. At Loughgall the heavily armed IRA gang attempted to murder police officers. The SAS's actions were found to be entirely legal by the Director of Public Prosecutions.'

Lt Col Richard Williams, a former SAS commanding officer and Ulster veteran, said: 'This is another hard punch in the face for the veterans and yet more sovereignty being lost. The only people happy with this will be Sinn Fein/IRA and the lawyers.'