Old soldiers are persecuted while terrorists are granted immunity

SIR – I was appalled by your report (August 1) of the possible arraignment of Sergeant O, formerly of 1 Para, on the charge of manslaughter. After 36 years as a “Cold War officer”, I am ashamed that our Government is even considering taking this retired senior non-commissioned officer to court.

Sergeant O arrived in Northern Ireland with 1 Para in 1972, after an awful journey, and was immediately shipped to Londonderry to face the most terrible rioting seen in the United Kingdom for many years.

Did these Paras volunteer to go? No. Did they want to go? No. Who sent them? The British Government. They obeyed the Government’s legal orders.

These men had sworn to uphold the law in the face of the Queen’s enemies. Why should they, as aged veterans, now face a civilian court on charges of murder or manslaughter, so many years later? They have been seriously let down by the Government.

Never let us forget that they were undertaking legal operations against possible terrorists. Were the IRA or the UDA acting legally? They were not, and yet today they cannot be arraigned before a court of law.

What sort of Government is this that can sanction such mismanagement? This whole witch-hunt must be stopped now for all military personnel.

Ex-servicemen should not throw their medals away. They were well and honestly earned, and are from the Queen. Instead they should badger their MPS to ensure this whole affair is finished once and for all.

Major James Thompson (retd) Salisbury, Wiltshire

SIR – In 1977 my foot patrol was on the receiving end of the first radiocontrolled improvised explosive device used in Belfast. We had two casualties. They made a full recovery.

At no time since that day have I or any of my soldiers been asked to give evidence or even make a statement. As far as I am aware little, if anything, was done either to find or prosecute those who attempted to murder eight Paratroopers. Who should I write to in order to have this case reopened? I suspect it would be a waste of ink. David Ellis

Aberdeen

SIR – Like Alec Richardson and Colonel Philip Barry (Letters, August 2), I was a regular Army officer for many years.

I, too, am seriously considering laying my General Service Medal for service in Northern Ireland on the Prime Minister’s doorstep as a sign of disgust at the apparent disregard by the Ministry of Defence for the old-fashioned ideas of loyalty and leadership with which we were once inculcated at Sandhurst.

The continued persecution of Sergeant O and others is shameful and inexcusable.

Clearly, whatever our top brass and politicians are doing is not enough. There comes a time when misguided expediency has to be cast aside and true leaders have to stand up and be counted. Howard Moore

Lymington, Hampshire