New battle to protect vets of The Troubles

THE campaign to protect Northern Ireland veterans from vexatious prosecutions is set to intensify after their champion said the Troubles Bill would result in them being treated "worse than terrorists".

- BY DAVID WILLIAMSON

Labour-appointed veterans commissioner David Johnstone added: "It is hard to overplay how serious this [Bill] is."

The Tories are mustering in an attempt to change the Bill and want those who served in the armed forces, intelligence services or police in the province to be immune from prosecution if they were following orders.

Labour is determined to repeal the Conservatives' Legacy Act which blocked inquests and civil actions, and offered both veterans and former terrorists conditional immunity if they provided information on Troubles-era atrocities.

But the Tories say Labour's move risks weakening today's armed forces by damaging recruitment and encouraging members of the special forces to quit. They and MPs from other parties will fight to secure changes to Labour's legislation.

A Conservative amendment would require the prosecuting authority to take into account the age and health of the veteran, any trauma suffered as a result of service during the Troubles, and number of times they have been investigated.

Shadow Armed Forces Minister Mark Francois said: "There is no other country on earth that would treat its veterans in this way."