Two army regiments have dramatically broken strict limits on political messaging to share a petition that calls on the Government not to change rules on historic prosecutions against veterans.
The Rifles and the Fusiliers, infantry regiments with hundreds of years of history, both shared a link to the petition started by a retired army officer.
The campaign comes as the Government has shared its intent to amend the Legacy Act, Tory legislation that was developed to halt prosecutions against veterans, many of whom are now pensioners.
If Labour’s plans are passed, British soldiers could face criminal and civil prosecutions, which veterans have warned could lead to years of legal strife.
Two army regiments have dramatically broken strict limits on political messaging to share a petition that calls on the Government not to change rules on historic prosecutions against veterans
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Sharing the petition with a rifle green graphic, the Rifles regiment said the government’s amendment of the NI Troubles Act “will mean that veterans can be re-investigated despite having previously been cleared of any wrong doings.”
The post on X continued: “So that a Parliamentary debate can be held to correct this we encourage you to click on the link below and sign your name.”
But the Fusiliers Regimental Headquarters social media profile went even further, lamenting Labour’s "Two Tier Justice of pursuing Army Veterans.”
Attaching a link to the petition, the Fusiliers post added: “They need 100K signatures to get the subject debated - CAN YOU HELP? Please sign and share!”
The dramatic interventions from the British Army units, which break strict rules on political commentary, will shock defence chiefs.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
After the Good Friday Agreement, thousands of terrorists were freed from prison and informed that they would not face prosecution, but soldiers have continued to be hounded by legal campaigns launched by IRA terrorists and their families.
This disparity in treatment has led to the Conservatives launching legislation to prevent historic prosecutions.
But since coming to power last year, Labour has indicated it would amend the legislation and permit more legal campaigns.
In March, the sister of an IRA terrorist shot by the SAS at Loughgall in 1987 and the families of those killed in the attack had received “reassurance” from Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn an inquest into the incident would go ahead.
Eight men were ambushed and shot dead by the SAS in Loughgall 1987, thwarting an IRA attack on a police station.
The inquest into the deaths of the eight terrorists and one civilian were not completed before a cut-off date introduced in the Legacy Act, introduced by the Tories.
Author of the petition, retired Army officer Ian Liles, said that the social media posts were justified.
The Rifles and the Fusiliers, infantry regiments with hundreds of years of history, both shared a link to the petition started by a retired army officer
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“Part of all their remit is to support their veterans and all serving soldiers. If the MoD wants to investigate these regimental HQs for supporting veterans then the MoD needs to investigate itself.”
Liles said: “Our veterans are about to be persecuted by this Government to appease terrorists.
“I can’t speak for serving soldiers, however I do know them, and it is a concern. They are worried that they will make a decision and for decades they will be persecuted. It is a nonsense.”
Liles, a retired brigadier who spent a total of 13 years in Northern Ireland, said: “We’ve now got judges making rulings on events that happened 50 years ago that are not qualified to do so. They weren’t there and they have not ever been in that position.”
“The IRA murdered women, children and even babies. We seem to have forgotten this. It’s all now about what a soldier did in the heat of the moment 50 years ago. The terrorists received letters to say they were free, but soldiers are still being persecuted.
“This is outrageous and it is two-tier justice.”
An MOD spokesperson said: “We are investigating social media posts which were published in error and without correct authorisation.”
