‘National disgrace!’ Keir Starmer accused of driving British Army veterans to brink of suicide over Northern Ireland bill

Peter Stevens
Mon, 13 Apr 2026 23:46:00 +0000

Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of driving British Army veterans to the brink of suicide over his Northern Ireland bill.

Veterans’ groups including the SAS Regimental Association (Sasra), the Special Boat Service Association and the Special Reconnaissance Regiment Association issued the warning in a letter to MPs on Monday.

They branded the legislation a “national disgrace” and said it was leading to veterans being “relentlessly persecuted”.

A briefing document sent to MPs included the case of a former soldier known as Fred, who attempted to take his own life following an inquest into a historic incident.

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Labour’s proposed legislation would scrap plans to implement the Legacy Act, which offered immunity to veterans who served during the Troubles from civil and criminal proceedings.

The groups warned that veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder are being pushed towards suicide.

They said: “Elderly special forces veterans who served this country faithfully are being relentlessly persecuted in the court of Northern Ireland.

"They have done nothing wrong. Some are being driven to suicide by their treatment at the hands of the state they served.

“The treatment of former special forces soldiers who served in Northern Ireland is a national disgrace.”

Ministers argue immunity provisions are incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights, as they could prevent alleged violations from being properly investigated.

Instead, the Government has proposed a new commission to examine Troubles-related deaths, alongside legal protections for veterans.

In their letter, the groups said Fred attempted to take his own life after being told his medical records would have to be “disclosed to the next of kin of the deceased terrorists”.

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They said he “fortunately” survived, but has since been left communicating through his wife after contact with legal representatives left him “very depressed, anxious, unable to work and have suicidal thoughts”.

A fellow veteran described the prospect of court proceedings as the “straw that broke the camel's back”.

Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Alex Burghart has tabled amendments aimed at strengthening protections for veterans.

The Conservative MP for Brentwood and Ongar drafted the proposals alongside senior military figures including General Sir Peter Wall, head of the British Army from 2010 to 2014, and General Sir Nick Parker, the last commander of operations in Northern Ireland.

Up to nine inquests could be reopened if the legislation passes in its current form.

Sasra has urged its members not to give evidence in future inquiries and has threatened to boycott proceedings.

A Sasra spokesman told The Telegraph: “After constructive efforts on our part, we are concerned that we have not yet received concrete assurances or seen any draft text of the proposed amendments with the committee stage imminent.

“We ask that the Government delay this bill in order to ensure that all parties who are concerned including ourselves, the generals, veterans commissioners and veterans groups are satisfied with the proposed amendments and that we are given time for proper scrutiny.”

A Government spokesman said: “We thank the associations for their letter, and the NI Secretary and Defence Secretary will continue to speak to veterans and former senior officers about how to ensure we get this right.

“We have been clear that there never has been and never will be any moral equivalence between our Armed Forces - who laid down their lives for this nation - and terrorist organisations.

“Our approach ensures new and robust protections, in law, for our brave Operation Banner veterans, including protection against repeat investigations and being required to travel to Northern Ireland to give information.”