PM slams ‘flawed’ Troubles probe process
Investigators too focused on the Army, claims May
Prime Minister has said the process of investigating Northern Ireland’s past is “flawed” and “disproportionately focused” on the armed forces.
She made the comments in the House of Commons during Prime Minister’s Questions after Sir Henry Bellingham suggested that military veterans who had already been investigated should “never be hounded or pursued” unless there was “overwhelming new evidence”.
Mr Bellingham was one of a group of MPs who signed a letter to Mrs May calling for the end to investigations of soldiers who served during the Troubles.
Responding, Mrs May said: “We owe a vast debt of gratitude to the heroism and bravery of soldiers and police officers who upheld the rule of law and were themselves accountable to it — something which will always set them apart from and above the terrorists who were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of members of the security forces.
“The current system in Northern Ireland is flawed. It isn’t working. It isn’t working for sol- diers, it isn’t working for police officers and it isn’t working for victims — and that victims group includes many soldiers and police officers as well.
“While a number of terrorist murders from the Troubles are actively under investigation by PSNI and other police forces, I am clear that, under current mechanisms for investigating the past, there is a disproportionate focus on former members of the armed forces and the police,” Mrs May added.
“We are committed to ensure all outstanding deaths in Northern Ireland should be investigated in a way which is fair, balanced and proportionate.”
Earlier this year the Prime Minister said the system for investigating soldiers and police was “patently unfair”.
She also claimed terrorists were not being investigated.
PSNI figures previously obtained by the BBC suggested investigations into killings by the Army accounted for about 30% of the PSNI’s legacy workload, with the remainder concerning republicans or loyalists.
Sinn Fein victims spokesperson Linda Dillon said Mrs May should “stop peddling the fallacy” that the legacy process is skewed against British state forces”.
“Once again, the British Prime Minister has caused great hurt and upset to the families of vicTHE tims of state violence by regurgitating the myth that the legacy process is skewed against British forces,” the Mid Ulster MLA added.
“That assertion is simply untrue, as has been evidenced by the facts published by the Director of the Public Prosecution Service and the PSNI.
“The British Prime Minister should not be peddling this fallacy. It is a narrative inspired by her partners in the DUP and a lobby of former British combatants who do not want Britain’s crimes in Ireland to be investigated.
“During the conflict, British soldiers killed Irish citizens with impunity,andtheynowwantimmunity as well.
“Ratherthanmakingspurious claims from the green benches of Westminster,TheresaMaywould be better served speaking to families here who were directly affected by state killings and telling them why she believes state forces are above the law.”