Travesty of justice
I Am disgusted at the news (mail) that a former british soldier, david holden, is to be prosecuted for manslaughter over the death of Aidan mcAnespie at an Army checkpoint in 1988 during the troubles in Northern Ireland.
had mr holden been a terrorist and intentionally tortured or murdered innocent people, then under the good Friday Agreement he would have long since been released from prison or issued with a ‘letter of comfort’ from the british government.
We in britain tend to forget the wickedness of the terrorists’ crimes: the massacres, the indiscriminate bombings of civilians including children, the cripplings by ‘kneecapping’ and the attempt to slaughter the democratically elected british government in brighton in 1984.
With the perpetrators of all these vile crimes avoiding punishment, it is a travesty of justice to pursue british soldiers for their alleged failings.
Furthermore, this kind of prosecution undermines the confidence of our soldiers that the government is guarding their back, and so compromises their military effectiveness in protecting us all.
OTTO INGLIS, Edinburgh. ANother former soldier is to be prosecuted by the politically correct establishment for serving his Queen and country 30 years ago.
to prevent this kind of injustice happening in the future, all british troops on active service should be issued with blank cartridges instead of live rounds.
GEOFF WILSON, Bolton, Lancs.