Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
SOLDIERS NOT TARGETS OF A ‘WITCH-HUNT’
Mcgrory defends PPS after Brokenshire comments
FIVE times more prosecutions have been pursued against alleged paramilitaries than soldiers in recent years, it has emerged.
Since November 2011, the Public Prosecution Service has decided to begin legal proceedings in seven Troubles-related cases linked to republicans, three involving loyalists and two connected to the military.
In the same time it was planned to bring to court a case linked to alleged police criminality, but that was later dropped.
The PPS released details of the number of legacy case files examined, including those in which no prosecutions were mounted, in response to a request by media.
The disclosure comes amid an ongoing public debate on whether there is an imbalance in the way former security force members are treated by the legal system in Northern Ireland.
At the weekend, Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire insisted there was a “disproportionate focus” on the State. But Director of Public Prosecutions Barra Mcgrory strongly rejected claims prosecutors are part of a “witch-hunt” against ex-soldiers.
Mr Mcgrory said: “The simple and clear reality is we deal with cases as they are referred to us, in accordance with the Code for Prosecutors.
“There is no imbalance of approach within the PPS.”
The PPS said it had made decisions in 17 legacy cases since November 2011, when Mr Mcgrory was appointed.
A spokeswoman said: “Eight of these cases relate to alleged offences involving republican paramilitaries and there have been prosecutions in seven of these.
“Proceedings are still active in three of these cases. Of the four cases that have been concluded there were two convictions and two in which proceedings were discontinued, one following the death of the defendant. “Three of the 17 cases related to alleged loyalist paramilitary activity. There were decisions to prosecute in each of these cases.
“A conviction has been secured in one case and the other two cases are currently active.
“A further three cases involved former soldiers. Two of these are currently proceeding as prosecutions and the third resulted in a decision not to prosecute.
“The final three cases involved police officers. In two of these a decision was taken not to prosecute. “In the third case proceedings were initiated but subsequently discontinued.” Following Mr Brokenshire’s comments, the Government said he was not criticising legal authorities but was stressing the need for better structures to address legacy issues.