Angry veteran returns medal to May in ‘witch-hunt’ protest

AN English soldier who served here during the Troubles and handed his service medal back to his MP has said the Government “reneged on a promise” to look after former troops.

Former major Tom Lynch (81) was asked to help look into an IRA incident in the 1970s.

But the veteran gave his service medal to Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield (right) and said she should “slam it on the despatch box” in front of Prime Minister Theresa May.

Mr Lynch said he was sick of being asked about his whereabouts and conduct during the conflict.

“I drew a line in the sand when I turned 80 and just thought enough is enough,” he told the Daily Mail.

“I gave the medal to Rosie and told her to give it back to the Prime Minister.

“I went out, along with many others, put our lives on the line, did our bit, and now they’re reneging on their promise to look after us veterans. It’s really very sad.

“I can look after myself. But I worry about the private soldiers, the juniors, the Toms who, like me, are in their late 70s or early 80s. Some of whom have died, some have wounds, and they are receiving the same letters as me but no answers.”

Labour MP Ms Duffield held up the medal in the House of Commons during defence questions on Monday as she questioned the investigations.

In a letter to Mrs May on Tuesday, more than 150 Conservative MPs and 50 members of the House of Lords called for the investigations into Army killings during the Troubles to stop.

It said Mrs May was going against the party’s 2017 election manifesto pledge to protect veterans.