Northern Ireland

Paramilitaries and ex-soldiers should get Troubles amnesty, ex-general says

Lord Richards has called for an amnesty for paramilitaries and ex-British soldiers. Picture from BBC
Lord Richards has called for an amnesty for paramilitaries and ex-British soldiers. Picture from BBC Lord Richards has called for an amnesty for paramilitaries and ex-British soldiers. Picture from BBC
By Claire Simpson

PARAMILITARIES and former British soldiers should get an amnesty for any Troubles-era killings, a former army general has said.

Lord David Richards, formerly the chief of Britain's defence staff, has become the first senior military figure to call for an amnesty for all sides in the conflict.

Some Conservatives and unionists want soldiers who served in Northern Ireland to be given an amnesty.

However, nationalists are opposed to the proposal and have said those impacted by the Troubles deserve to know the truth.

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Lord Richards, who was chief of defence staff from 2010 to 2013, told a BBC Radio 4 documentary: "Although it'll stick in the gullets of many soldiers, I think probably the fairest result is some form of amnesty.

"An amnesty would draw a line under the Troubles. My instinct is that it probably would have to be applied to both sides."

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair's Labour government sent around 200 'comfort letters' to republicans to assure them that they were not being pursued for prosecution.

British soldiers in Bombay Street, west Belfast, in August 1969. Picture by Gerry Collins
British soldiers in Bombay Street, west Belfast, in August 1969. Picture by Gerry Collins British soldiers in Bombay Street, west Belfast, in August 1969. Picture by Gerry Collins

Lord Richards, who served in Northern Ireland during the conflict, told the documentary Drawing a Line Under the Troubles that issues around potential prosecutions had dragged on for too long.

"How much longer have they got to put up with this?" he said.

"I would like to think that part and parcel of that process would be a drawing of the line and an agreement to get on with our lives and put it into the history books."

Former British soldier Dennis Hutchings (centre), has been charged over the fatal 1974 shooting of a 27-year-old with learning difficulties in Co Tyrone. File picture by Gareth Fuller, Press Association
Former British soldier Dennis Hutchings (centre), has been charged over the fatal 1974 shooting of a 27-year-old with learning difficulties in Co Tyrone. File picture by Gareth Fuller, Press Association Former British soldier Dennis Hutchings (centre), has been charged over the fatal 1974 shooting of a 27-year-old with learning difficulties in Co Tyrone. File picture by Gareth Fuller, Press Association

He also said British soldiers involved in the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre should not be prosecuted if no fresh evidence emerges.

"If there is no new evidence, my instinct is that these men have been through enough," he said.

"And we, as a nation, need to say enough is enough and let's put it behind us and crack on."

Lord Richards also insisted the Troubles was a war.

"If you're in a firefight with a group of IRA, for us actually engaged in the fight, it was a war," he said.