MERCER’S BACKING FOR ACCUSED VETERAN
FORMER Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer said British exsoldiers facing prosecution for alleged crimes committed while on active service “deserved a voice” and he was happy to stand with them, after attending a weekend veterans rally.
A striking image taken at the rally (published on page one) shows the Plymouth Moor View MP grasping the shoulder of former Westcountry soldier Dennis Hutchings, accused of the attempted murder of a vulnerable man 46 years ago.
Alongside the picture, Mr Mercer, who lost his job as Veterans Minister over his stance on the issue, tweeted that it had been Mr Hutchings’ 80th birthday and he had chosen to spend it at the rally. Mr Mercer went on: “He [Mr Hutchings] is due to stand trial in September for something that happened 46 years ago in Northern Ireland. Everyone else present at the time is now dead. At some stage, this will end.”
Hundreds of people joined the Respect Our Veterans march. It followed the collapse of a trial of two ex-paratroopers accused of murdering an Official IRA leader in 1972.
A rally of bikers from campaign group Rolling Thunder UK, which organised the event, were among those at Parliament Square in central London.
They rode in their droves into the capital and assembled close to the statue of Sir Winston Churchill outside Parliament as demonstrators waved flags and brandished placards, with one banner saying “stop vexatious trials of vets”.
A crowd gathered as Mr Mercer was joined on stage by Mr Hutchings, who lives in South-East Cornwall.
Mr Hutchings has always protested his innocence but later this year is due in court on an attempted murder charge.
Mr Mercer has previously called on the Government to include veterans who served in Northern Ireland in a new Bill to protect soldiers from prosecutions. Their exclusion from legislation as currently drawn forced him out of his Government post.
Mr Hutchings has called for the case to be halted, after it emerged that plans are in place to end the prosecution of both veterans and terrorists for alleged crimes committed before the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.
Mr Hutchings’ lawyer, Philip Barden of Devonshires Solicitors, told The Times he had sent a letter to the Public Prosecution Service calling for an urgent review of the decision to prosecute Mr Hutchings, who has always protested his innocence.
Speaking after the demonstration, Mr Mercer said: “Today’s march was about demonstrating the strength of feeling on the issues of veterans’ affairs.
“The country has always got it, government never has, and that has to change. I was delighted at the turn-out at such little notice. Thanks to everyone who came out.
“We’ll be watching the Queen’s Speech closely for the promised legislation.”
In his resignation letter, he said he had “no choice” but to leave after frustration at a lack of progress over the legislation to protect British veterans who served during the Troubles.
He said he had hoped Mr Johnson’s premiership would “signal a step change in veterans affairs in the UK” and that he had raised his concerns in a face-to-face meeting with him.