New demo in battle to halt witch-hunts
NORTHERN Ireland veterans will next month demonstrate outside Army recruiting offices to warn youngsters of the “witch-hunt” facing former soldiers.
Their message to recruits is that they could also face investigation for their conduct decades after leaving the forces.
The protest on October 5 will coincide with the closing date of the Northern Ireland Office’s consultation on its plans to deal with so-called “legacy” killings.
The poster for the protest shows former Regimental Corporal Major Dennis Hutchings, who faces trial over an incident in Northern Ireland in 1974.
Pursued
He is one of four British soldiers facing trial over events going back more than 40 years in Northern Ireland, despite having been cleared at the time. Hundreds more face reinvestigation.
And 3,500 allegations were levelled at Iraq veterans which led to taxpayer costs of £60million without leading to a single prosecution.
Last month the Daily Express revealed that Government lawyers contacted a veteran to see if he could help with allegations about the Cyprus emergency dating back more than 60 years.
Mr Hutchings, who will be outside Plymouth recruiting office, said: “Our message to would-be recruits is that this could happen to you in 20, 30, 40 years’ time or, as in my case, 44 years after the event.
“We’re not just talking about Northern Ireland but any conflict in which they serve. You could be like me and be pursued when you are in retirement for an incident over which you’ve already been investigated and cleared.
“Every veteran should attend this day of protest, not just Northern Ireland veterans.
“Go to these recruiting offices between 10am and 2pm on Friday October 5. Wear your medals with pride.”
A message to Justice for Northern Ireland Veterans’ 25,000 supporters said: “We are asking veterans across the country to protest outside your local Army careers office and hand out leaflets to those young men and women who could be subjected to the same treatment as NI veterans in years to come.
“On the same day as the career offices static protests we will hold another static protest outside the MoD.”
Mr Hutchings, 77, from Cornwall, who has severe health problems, denies charges of attempted murder and attempted grievous bodily harm with intent, relating to the killing of John Patrick Cunningham, 27.
Mr Cunningham, was unarmed and had learning difficulties.
He was shot in the back in County Tyrone, in June 1974, as he ran away from an Army patrol in what Mr Hutchings accepts was “a tragedy”.
His family contend he ran across a field because he feared men in uniform.
The shooting was subject to a joint Royal Ulster Constabulary and Royal Military Police investigation which formally cleared Mr Hutchings in 1974 of any wrongdoing.