'WITCH-HUNT': Why do IRA terrorists walk free but Northern Ireland vets face PROSECUTION?
TERRORISTS are freely walking the streets while the Government shamefully launches “a witch hunt” against heroic Northern Ireland war veterans, according to 1,500 people who marched on Downing Street today.
One veteran, 75-year-old Dennis Hutchings, was woken up by police in December, who charged him with the attempted murder of an IRA suspect in 1974 while he was serving Queen and country in Armagh.
The Good Friday Agreement, signed off by Tony Blair, allowed 500 convicted terrorists linked to the IRA to walk free, something seen as “a grave injustice” by ex-forces personnel who are now watching their own colleagues face prosecution.
In an emotional speech delivered in front of the Houses of Parliament, Alan Barry, event organiser for Justice for Northern Ireland Alan Barry said: “These actions by the British Government are a betrayal of all that we hold dear.
“No British soldier ever went on patrol with the intention of committing a crime, no British soldier ever placed a bomb in a pub full of innocents and no British soldier ever placed a bomb underneath a police vehicle.
“Prime Minister, please do not allow this appalling situation to continue.”
UKIP
UKIP“However, of the combatants, for every paramilitary killed two members of the armed forces and security services lost their lives.
“And while I mourn the members of our brave forces, I remain unapologetic for the deaths of terrorists, who had criminally taken up arms to force a change the majority in Northern Ireland did not want!
“As far as I’m concerned, those who live by the sword, often die by the sword, and that is why it is so disgusting that veterans now face prosecution.
UKIP“And the odds of being targeted in this post-conflict 'witch-hunt' seem to be growing.”
A petition was handed in at Downing Street demanding the end of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland and the British Government stop criminal proceedings against military men and women for actions undertaken during the Northern Ireland conflict.
UKIP
UKIPHe told Express.co.uk: “I served in the armed forces and I’m appalled some veterans in their 70s are being arrested and charged with killings in NI during the troubles. This is despite the fact that over 90 per cent of the deaths were carried out by terrorist paramilitaries - why is nobody going after them?
"We need to bring this nonsense to an end.”
Danny Kinahan MP Ulster Unionist Party for South Antrim and a fellow veteran, said: “I want to see a great wave of support for our veterans. We’ve got one angle in Northern Ireland getting away with everything but British soldiers being dragged back to the courts. It’s totally wrong.”
Mr Hutchings, who is still facing a historic charge of attempted murder, said: “This is abuse against soldiers who fought in Northern Ireland. It’s not just about me, there are hundreds of ex-soldiers being investigated. That’s fine, but make sure they investigate the terrorists as well.”
"The government is wholly committed to finding a lawful, fair, balanced and proportionate way forward for legacy issues in Northern Ireland. We are also very mindful of the fact that some 90 per cent of all deaths in the troubles were caused by terrorists.
"Without new bodies to address the legacy of the past, murders by terrorists won’t be investigated any time soon and victims, including families of brave serviceman killed, are less likely to see justice.”
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/760092/IRA-Northern-Ireland-Theresa-May-Downing-Street-Good-Friday-Agreement-Ukip
NWN: Many more pics and detail on the link.