Law to end witch-hunt of troops doesn’t get a mention

A LAW to protect British veterans of northern Ireland from prosecution was dropped from the Queen’s speech – but Boris Johnson insisted he still planned to introduce it.

the Prime Minister said he would bring forward legislation to end the pursuit of soldiers over historical allegations in northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan.

His assurances came after MPs and former Army chiefs criticised the government when the amnesty was not included in the speech.

A law to make the internet safer, the online Harms Bill, also failed to appear in the speech. draft legislation will be published at a later date.

Yesterday, Conservative MP Bob stewart, a former Army officer who completed seven tours of northern Ireland, pressed Mr Johnson on the law to protect veterans during the Queen’s speech debate. the Prime Minister said he was committed to

‘Compelling new evidence’

shielding British veterans from ‘unfair prosecution’.

Mr stewart referred to the case of dennis Hutchings, who has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of a man with learning difficulties during the northern Irish conflict.

speaking in the Commons, Mr stewart said: ‘there was no mention ... about looking after our veteran soldiers from northern Ireland and I know [Mr Johnson] intends to do that, so what are we going to do about it because it’s urgent in the case of dennis Hutchings?’

Mr Johnson replied: ‘We will be bringing forward legislation to protect serving and former serving personnel. the consultation on that matter has just come to an end.’

He later told MPs: ‘this government understands that no one can escape justice for a crime that they have committed. But ... there should be no unfair prosecution when no new evidence has been produced.’

Mr Johnson has promised to end the ‘witch-hunt’ of soldiers over historical allegations of offences committed in operations during the troubles in northern Ireland as well as in Iraq and Afghanistan.

But the Prime Minister was said to have been persuaded to omit the legislation by no 10 advisers and officials in the northern Ireland office.

the proposed law would have included a statutory presumption against prosecution for current or former personnel for alleged offences on duty more than ten years ago.

Compelling new evidence would be needed to delve back into old cases, with historical prosecutions only in the public interest in ‘exceptional circumstances’.

six former soldiers who served in northern Ireland during the troubles are facing prosecution.