Prosecuting ex-soldiers who served during the Northern Ireland Troubles is biased and unjust

SIR – We write to express our dismay at the prospect of former soldiers being charged with murder arising out of the Northern Ireland Troubles. We believe this is totally unjust and a betrayal of those men, many of whom are now in their twilight years, who served the Crown in the Troubles where the enemy wore no identifying uniform and mingled with the crowd.

In January 2017, the Prime Minister stated that: “The Government has always acknowledged an ongoing duty of care to former soldiers.” Yet that duty seems only to extend to the provision of legal help.

The Prime Minister also admitted that “there is an imbalance in the investigations and cases relating to the Troubles”, with legacy-related cases almost exclusively focusing on the military and police, “while many hundreds of unsolved terrorist murders are left uninvestigated”.

But while the forces of the Crown maintain records, the IRA has none, so this imbalance can never be rectified.

Your report that some relatives of those killed on January 30 1972 do not wish to see these men jailed adds further powerful argument for the Government to stop wringing its hands and intervene to halt this inhumane action by the state.

Iain Duncan Smith Michael Fallon General The Lord Dannatt Johnny Mercer Crispin Blunt Col Bob Stewart and 13 others: see telegraph.co.uk

SIR – The image of Regina Mclaughlin (report, March 2), and her generous desire to forgive those who shot her father, moved me greatly.

These investigations are not about contemporary events and must be seen in context. British soldiers were sent to face a conflict scenario. Our Government must be encouraged to accept responsibility for that deployment and the actions of those involved.

Surely, instead of the pursuit of individuals, a more just and productive process, modelled on the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, could be pursued. It would save painful time, given that the proposed tribunals could outlive the accused and the bereaved, and would be less costly. Such a process could also arrive more swiftly at a lasting peace and opportunity for healing. Revd Canon Alan Hughes Berwick-upon-tweed, Northumberland

SIR – The Bloody Sunday veterans have lived for 47 years with the threat of prosecution and their memories of what happened in Londonderry in 1972. That is a life sentence.

These were young men doing a difficult and dangerous job. Justice will not be served by prolonging their suffering. It is time to move on. Barry Smith Loughborough, Leicestershire

SIR – Surely charging any of the Army veterans with murder over Bloody Sunday while IRA terrorists remain free will do more damage to the Good Friday Agreement than Brexit ever could? Ian Macgregor London N7

SIR – The stated aim of the IRA was the overthrow of the elected governments of the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic. The insurgents have largely been granted freedom from arrest, while those who did their duty, on behalf of Queen and Country, find themselves facing criminal prosecution. It is difficult to imagine another government that would countenance such a betrayal. Roger Jones Odiham, Hampshire

SIR – We are about to charge Army veterans, who fought terrorists in Northern Ireland 47 years ago, with murder.

Currently, the Army has a major ongoing recruitment problem. Any connection? Neil Kerr Pontrilas, Hereford