The amnesty in Northern Ireland should apply to everyone - including veterans

This is why it is wrong to prosecute British Army veterans and police officers over events during the troubles in Northern Ireland.

Not because anyone is above the law. Nobody is above the law.

But because the law should apply to everyone.

And if you have an amnesty for events during the troubles, it should apply to everyone, including those who were serving their country.

We have had an amnesty for "paramilitaries," which is a euphemism for terrorists. I don't like it. But it was necessary to achieve peace. And under that amnesty 428 convicted terrorists were released from prison.

But if we have an amnesty for the actions of terrorists during the troubles, it should apply to the actions of soldiers and police officers who were serving their country and trying to defend the communities in Northern Ireland, often in circumstances requiring extremely difficult split-second decisions while in great personal danger.

It was a huge mistake by the Blair government not to insist on the Amnesty which was part of the Good Friday agreement being extended to protect veterans and police officers.

So long as terrorists who have been convicted of murder during the troubles are walking free under an amnesty, then fairness demands that a similar amnesty in relation to troubles-related events should apply to those who were serving their country. Any election candidate or party who is proposing changes to legislation on this subject such as the Northern Ireland Troubles (legacy and reconciliation act 2023, which Labour is proposing to repeal) should be asked the following question.

Do you believe that the Good Friday agreement amnesty for convicted terrorists should stand? 

And if so, do you accept that fairness demands a similar amnesty over troubles-related events for veterans and police officers?

My party is not proposing to repeal that act, but I will answer the questions anyway: my answers are Yes and Yes.

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