News

On the runs paved way for soldier amnesty

The Irish News reported plans for a statute of limitations for former British soldiers in February.
The Irish News reported plans for a statute of limitations for former British soldiers in February. The Irish News reported plans for a statute of limitations for former British soldiers in February.

Tony Blair's 'backroom' deal with Sinn Féin in relation to the so called 'on the runs' made an amnesty for former British soldiers an "inevitability" a member of the Westminster defence committee has said.

Earlier this week the powerful Commons committee backed calls for a statue of limitations stopping investigation or prosecution of all former British soldiers for Troubles related offences.

The committee stopped short of recommending a statute of limitations for unsolved paramilitary killings saying that "would be for the next government to decide".

In February the Irish News reported than 200 soldiers linked to unsolved Troubles killings are set to benefit from a de facto amnesty, with the British government seeking to introduce special legislation which would place a ''line in the sand' on future prosecutions.

Sir Gerald Howarth, the outgoing Conservative MP for Aldershot said at the time that there were discussions taking place at the highest level to protect former members of the British military from prosecution.

"The soldiers and their families I speak to feel very let down", he said.

Three former members of the British military are currently charged with offences relating to their time on duty in Northern Ireland.

In December last year two retired members of the Parachute Regiment were told they were to be prosecuted for the murder of Official IRA commander Joe McCann in 1972.

Another former soldier, Dennis Hutchings, who is in his seventies and from Cornwall, has been charged with the attempted murder of John-Pat Cunningham (27). Mr Cunningham, who had learning difficulties, was shot in Co Tyrone in 1974.

Prosecutors are also considering files on the 1972 Bloody Sunday shootings by soldiers in Derry.

DUP MP, Gavin Robinson who sits on the Westminster Defence Committee said this current Conservative government had a "long way to go to undo the disgraceful deals of the past".

"The current government are not going to be able to right the wrongs of the past, there were some quite disgraceful secret deals done and people were understandably outraged.

"The 'on the run' issue created a completely unbalanced situation and it is absolutely right that there are now steps taken to address that imbalance.

"The IRA did not leave written records of the murders they carried out and in fact when pressed have continued to observe the IRA's code of silence.

"This was very much evident in Martin McGuinness' evidence during the Saville inquiry.

"These recommendations are not set in stone and they could be rejected, but I would hope the current government will give serious consideration to the report and the very understandable public anger", he added.