Veterans’ prosecutions a priority for Mordaunt
Penny Mordaunt has insisted that addressing legacy killings in Northern Ireland is a “personal priority”, amid a growing row within the Conservative Party over the prosecution of veteran soldiers. The new Defence Secretary has promised to resolve the controversy, admitting the issue had “dragged on for far too long”. Her comments came hours after Johnny Mercer, a prominent Tory MP, said announced he was going on strike until Theresa May ended the “abhorrent process” of pursuing veterans over allegations that dating back several decades.
PENNY MORDAUNT has insisted that addressing legacy killings in Northern Ireland is a “personal priority”, amid a growing row among Conservatives over the treatment of veteran soldiers.
The new Defence Secretary has promised to resolve the controversy surrounding the prosecution of former service personnel, admitting the issue had “dragged on for far too long”.
Her pledge came hours after Tory MP Johnny Mercer said he was going on strike until Theresa May ended the “abhorrent process” of pursuing veterans over allegations dating back several decades. In a letter to the Prime Minister, the former Army officer said he found “personally offensive” the repeated investigations into ex-soldiers, many of whom are now elderly.
Attacking her over government inaction, he said that as one of “their tribe” he could no longer stand by and watch the “macabre spectacle” of veterans “being dragged back to Northern Ireland” without any protection from the government that sent them.
“I will not be voting for any of the Government’s legislative actions outside of Brexit until legislation is brought forward to protect veterans from being repeatedly prosecuted for historical allegations,” he stated. He has previously called for an amnesty for veterans accused of crimes linked to the Troubles.
Ms Mordaunt, herself the daughter of a former paratrooper, said the issue was at the top of her agenda.
She said: “This has dragged on for far too long and it is time for action. We owe it to those who take the greatest risk in the service of their nation. We will always hold our Armed Forces and the chain of command to account but I want to ensure our service personnel are not going to be victims of unfounded allegations, as we saw in the case of IHAT (Iraq Historical Allegations Team) or pursued unfairly for events that took place decades ago.”
Gavin Williamson, her predecessor, had pushed hard on an issue that proved a source of prolonged tension in the Cabinet and among backbench MPS.
According to Whitehall insiders, he was understood to have been in talks with Arlene Foster, leader of the Democratic Unionists, but had encountered resistance from Karen Bradley, the Northern Ireland Secretary.
It comes in the wake of reports that six former soldiers face prosecution linked to the Troubles.
The Public Prosecution Service in Northern Ireland said of 26 so-called legacy cases it has taken decisions on since 2011, 13 related to republicans, eight to loyalists, and five were connected to the Army.
Mrs May’s spokesman said: “The Prime Minister is aware of the strength of feeling. We have been clear the system to investigate the past needs to change to provide better outcomes for victims and survivors of the Troubles. We will be responding in due course.”