They promised to look after us, says veteran who returned medal
WITCH-HUNT AGAINST OUR HEROES
The Northern Ireland veteran who handed back his service medal to his MP has said probes into the Troubles are ‘reneging on the promise’ to look after former troops. Former Major Tom Lynch, 81, served in the Army during the conflict and has been asked to co- operate with investigations into decades-old killings.
he told yesterday how he gave his service medal to his MP Rosie Duffield and asked her to ‘slam it on the despatch box’ in front of the Prime Minister.
Mr Lynch said he is fed up of receiving letters asking him about his actions during the conflict more than 40 years ago.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland has sparked anger by reexamining every Army killing between 1968 and 1998, and the Mail has led calls to end the witchhunt against former soldiers.
Many have been taken to court over Troubles deaths and face lengthy jail terms if convicted.
There have been warnings that Britain’s fighting spirit could be undermined by vexatious claims over the historic deaths of IRA suspects at the hands of soldiers during the conflict.
This week Labour MP Miss Duffield held up the medal belonging to Mr Lynch, one of her Canterbury constituents, during defence questions in the Commons and said he wanted to give it back.
Mr Lynch said: ‘I drew a line in the sand when I turned 80 and just thought enough is enough.
‘I gave the medal to Rosie and told her to give it back to the Prime Minister.
‘I went out, along with many others, put our lives on the line, did our bit, and now they’re reneging on their promise to look after us veterans. It’s really very sad.’
he said some veterans would be placed under undue strain if investigations into historic acts continued.
‘I can look after myself. But I worry about the private soldiers, the juniors, the Toms who, like me, are in their late 70s or early 80s. Some of whom have died, some have wounds, and they are receiving the same letters as me but no answers.’
he has been asked to provide information about his conduct and whereabouts during an IRA incident in the 1970s.
Theresa May has this week come under pressure from more than 150 Tory MPs and prominent peers to end the witch-hunt of Army veterans. In an open letter delivered to the Prime Minister on Tuesday, the group said the current investigation of former soldiers for historic allegations ‘simply cannot be allowed to continue as it is’.
The letter accused Mrs May of going against a 2017 manifesto pledge to protect veterans from persistent legal claims.
More than a third of all Tory MPs have signed the letter, along with 50 members of the house of Lords, including four former chiefs of defence staff.
Yesterday the Prime Minister was asked if she agrees that the hounding of Northern Ireland veterans is ‘against natural justice, damaging to recruitment and contrary to the military covenant’. Mrs May said: ‘The current system in Northern Ireland is flawed. It is not working. It is not working for soldiers, for police officers or for victims – and of course that group of victims also includes many soldiers and police officers.
‘We owe a vast debt of gratitude to the heroism and bravery of the soldiers and police officers who upheld the rule of law and were themselves accountable to it – something that will always set them apart from and above the terrorists who, during the troubles in Northern Ireland, were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of members of the security forces.
‘We are committed to ensuring that all outstanding deaths in Northern Ireland should be investigated in a way that is fair, balanced and proportionate.’
The Northern Ireland Office recently closed a consultation on legacy cases like this and will report soon.