A L AST BATTLE
Black Watch veterans of the Troubles unite to condemn fresh criminal investigations into the actions of soldiers in Northern Ireland
They
are a band of brothers who believed their wars were over.
But four decades after serving in Northern Ireland, five Black Watch veterans, all from the regiment’s Fife heartland, are fighting another battle – to protect their reputations. They fear investigations into deaths during the Troubles will tarnish the name of every soldier who served there.
The historical inquiries are re-investigating 3,200 deaths recorded during the conflict, including those linked to the military.
British troops have been pursued by law firms looking into allegations of misconduct in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan. Among veterans facing prosecution are two former British paratroopers, who face trial for the murder of IRA gunman Joe Mccann in 1972.
And a former soldier in the Lifeguards regiment, Dennis Hutchings, faces trial for attempted murder following a fatal shooting in Northern Ireland in 1974. Former service personnel have already been questioned and so far at least one unnamed Scottish ex-soldier has been told he could face prosecution in connection with the shooting in 1975 of Patrick Quail, 37, whose death was initially blamed on loyalists.
While terrorists convicted of violence were freed under the Good Friday Agreement and are now immune from prosecution, the campaigning soldiers believe every veteran is now being “betrayed” The men are launching a public petition and plan a campaign of protests, supported by politicians and former comrades.
One of them, Private Eddie Pratt, 55, from Methilhill, Fife, who served tours in Belfast from 1980 to 1984, said: “Why must we live under a cloud of suspicion, waiting for a knock on the door, because we put our lives at risk?
“I wear with pride my Northern Ireland medal but I’ll tell them to shove it if they question my behaviour.”
The Black Watch played a significant role as the British military attempt to quash the IRA. Their campaign is supported by defence expert Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Crawford, who said: “We’ve let so-called political prisoners go free for the purposes of political expediency.
“On the other hand, the law is prepared to pursue those who were put in harm’s way to do their duty.
“It is a direct contradiction of morality. It feels like a witch hunt.” MSP Maurice Corry, Scottish Conservative armed forces spokesman, agreed, criticising the manner in which veterans are being treated. He said: “I’m appalled. Many involved in conflicts live with stress and trauma. I will do everything to ensure these threats are lifted.”
MP Carol Monaghan, the SNP’S armed forces spokeswoman, claimed veterans who “served with honour in the most difficult, stressful and dangerous circumstances, have nothing to fear from the investigations into the wrongdoings of a few rogue operators”.
She said: “The Good Friday Agreement brought about a reconciliation.
“An important part of this was that the perpetrators admitted to atrocities committed. This included a small minority serving in the armed forces.”
But Lt Col Crawford said: “The exservicemen are easy targets, many are old and infirm.
“I don’t understand who is driving this agenda but I wonder how they would feel is it was the released ‘political prisoners’ who were being brought back for investigation.”