CONCERNS have been raised after the British government launched a drive to recruitment a Veterans Commissioner in Northern Ireland.
The plans to appoint a commissioner was outlined in the New Decade, New Approach agreement agreed earlier this year.
The successful candidate will receive £306 a day including expenses for a total of 110 days a year.
Plans to appoint a commissioner come weeks after Secretary of State Brandon Lewis sparked anger when he suggested that only Troubles killings with "compelling" new evidence and a realistic prospect of prosecution will receive a full police investigation.
The British government has also suggested some cases may be closed and a bar placed on reopening them.
Mark Thomson, chief executive of Relatives for Justice, voiced concerns.
“It is outrageous that on one hand Brandon Lewis seeks to prevent victims from right across the community access to truth, justice and accountability, and on the other rewards key combatants like the British army who were involved in hundreds of killings, collusion and torture; violations that remain unaccounted for,” he said.
UUP assembly member Doug Beattie said there was a “large veteran community” in the north and welcomed the development.
“This is not about advantage, it's about ensuring veterans are not disadvantaged by their service,” he said.
