Today’s Defence-related news includes coverage around the prosecution of Northern Ireland veterans, after 150 Conservative MPs and peers wrote to the Prime Minister encouraging her to halt all legal action.
Northern Ireland veterans
There is continued coverage in the Daily Mail and Daily Express of the investigations into Veterans of the Troubles. Reporting focuses on Major Tom Lynch, the 81-year-old who returned his service medal to his MP, which was displayed at PMQ's.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:
We are indebted to those who served with great courage and distinction to bring about peace and security in Northern Ireland.
That is why I don’t want to see elderly veterans having to face repeated investigations decades after the events in question. The Northern Ireland Office recently closed a consultation on legacy cases like this and will report soon.
The Ministry of Defence has put in place a comprehensive package of support, including legal representation to any individual accused of an offence arising from their service on operations. A new team has also been created to consider the concerns of veterans and the wider public in order to find appropriate solutions.
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