'Scapegoated'...fears for ex-soldiers over Troubles legacy deal

LABOUR has been accused of betraying Northern Ireland veterans in a deal critics say “opens the floodgates” to new investigations.

- By David Williamson, Conor Wilson and James Knuckey

The agreement with the Republic of Ireland scraps the previous Tory government’s measures giving Troubles veterans conditional immunity to stop vexatious prosecutions — which has fuelled fears they will be scapegoated.

Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge said: “The previous Legacy Act meant our brave Northern Ireland veterans could sleep soundly in their beds at night, knowing they would not be prosecuted for the crime of serving their country decades ago.

“Labour's announcement removes that certainty and opens the floodgates to a new wave of vexatious legal action.”