Army immunity not in legacy bill

Soldiers get no Statute of Limitations

BRITISH troops will not be immune from prosecution under draft Government proposals on Northern Ireland legacy issues.

MPS wanted a Statute of Limitations for former servicemen and paramilitaries after the 2014 Stormont House Agreement was signed off.

But it was rejected by Amnesty International and victims’ groups, while some political parties raised concerns. The proposals will be put out for public consultation.

Relatives for Justice, who met NIO Minister Shailesh Vara and politicians at Stormont House yesterday, welcomed the news.

The charity’s advocacy manager Mike Ritchie said: “We are pleased the Statute of Limitations has been left out of the public consultation.”

Charity member Carmel Quinn added: “I personally raised the killing of my brother John Laverty, killed in 1971 during internment in Ballymurphy, telling Minister Vara that while we were meeting him the coroner was expressing her frustrations during a hearing at the lack of cooperation in tracing the soldiers responsible. We said this was not acceptable and cooperation was required, not obstacles.”

Some MPS claim cases against former British soldiers are tantamount to a “witch-hunt”. But prosecutors and police in Northern Ireland say figures show no disproportionate focus on ex-security force members.