Marchers to stage protest over troops witch-hunt

THOUSANDS of campaigners will march on Parliament today demanding an end to the ‘witch-hunt’ against troops who served in Northern Ireland.

They are calling on Theresa May to halt the ‘appalling’ decision to re-examine historical killings during the Troubles.

Up to 1,000 ex-soldiers, many in their 60s and 70s, are now potential murder or manslaughter suspects over actions at the height of the IRA’s campaign. The Prime Minister was urged to act over the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s controversial move to hold a fresh investigation into every Army killing in the fight against Irish republican terrorism.

The rally, which begins in Horse Guards Parade and ends in Parliament Square, has been organised by the protest group Justice For Northern Ireland Veterans and is likely to attract 2,000 campaigners.

The Daily Mail has long campaigned for an end to the hounding of our troops. Justice For Northern Ireland Veterans says action is unjustly being taken against soldiers as IRA members get off scot-free.

The group wants to highlight the disparity in treatment between the veterans and 187 paramilitary suspects who received ‘comfort letters’ from Tony Blair’s government which told them they were not being sought by police.

Tory MP Julian Lewis, who is set to speak at the event, said the Government should pass a statute of limitations to prevent veterans facing legal action. This would effectively grant immunity to those who served in Ulster from 1969 to 1998.