'We've spent our lives fighting for the people we served with...and we won't stop now'

Mercer, who served of soldiers.

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The following year, the three tours of Legacy Act 2023 was introduced to Afghanistan, Mr Hutchthe Commons and passed into law, ings’ final days, spent despite opposition from political defending his service in parties in Northern Ireland and name of Queen and country many on the Labour benches. It came too late for Mr Hutchings but would hopefully ensure that his tale was the final chapter of the story of the persecution of soldiers for carrying out their duties.

Mr Mercer said at the time: “I made a promise to veterans I would never quit. I made a promise to Dennis. I remember when Dennis was alive, he felt no one in government stood up for him.

“People are obviously annoyed that [the Act] came too late for Dennis. But I hope this brings comfort to those who have had their lives destroyed simply because they served this nation in Northern Ireland”. The act sought to end almost entirely the system of criminal prosecutions, inquests and civil claims associated with the Troubles and replace them with “reviews” to be carried out by an independent body.

Controversially, the act offered conditional immunity from prosecution to those accused of serious Troubles-related incidents.