A FORMER British Army commander has said the investigation of soldiers over alleged wrongdoing during the Troubles is "unfair".
Sir Robert Pascoe, who led Operation Banner from 1985 to 1988, was speaking at a ceremony in Lisburn on Saturday attended by scores of veterans commemorating loss of life during the British Army's longest continuous deployment, from 1969 to 2005.
More than 20,000 soldiers were in Northern Ireland at the peak of the deployment.
"We all know that the current process is unfair and we look to our politicians to sort it out without delay," he said.
He said soldiers had faced legal action, there had been public protests against historical investigations and "exaggerated" stories of bias against the army by PSNI detectives which were not borne out by the number of cases investigated.
His comments come amid the continuing Soldier F controversy.
Next month the case of an ex-British soldier, who is facing prosecution for two murders on Bloody Sunday, will be heard in court in Derry.
The Public Prosecution Service said in March that there was enough evidence to charge him with the murders of James Wray and William McKinney.
Since then Soldier F supporters have erected banners and protested their support for the former paratrooper.
Last week members of the Clyde Valley Flute Band came in for criticism after displaying Parachute Regiment insignias on the sleeves of their uniforms during the annual Apprentice Boys Relief of Derry parade.
Following the event in Lisburn veterans later paraded through Lisburn town centre, past crowds of cheering wellwishers, preceded by brass bands.
Among those in attendance was DUP leader Arlene Foster, party MP Jeffrey Donaldson and former Coronation Street actor Charlie Lawson.
The Enniskillen-born actor, who who previously voiced support for veterans, said: "There were people here in uniform who were put in intolerable positions and over in England they tend to want to forget us, no matter what colour they wear."
Mrs Foster, who tweeted a picture with herself and the former Coronation Street star, said: "These people who are here today stood between us and anarchy during the 70s, 80s and 90s".
Yvonne Black, whose husband David was shot dead by dissidents in 2012 as he drove to work at Maghaberry prison, said it was a difficult, emotional and proud day.
She said: "Our husbands were prison officers and they were never seen out and they were always behind the walls and they were the service that protected without actually being recognised and being seen."
