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| No new inquiry into killings by British troops, say Northern Irish police | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Police in Northern Ireland have no plans to launch a fresh inquiry into killings carried out by British troops during the Troubles. | Police in Northern Ireland have no plans to launch a fresh inquiry into killings carried out by British troops during the Troubles. |
| The force issued the statement after a front-page report in the Sun said officers would reinvestigate all 302 killings carried out by British troops. The paper said at least 500 ex-servicemen, many now in their 60s and 70s, would be “viewed as suspects” during the process. | The force issued the statement after a front-page report in the Sun said officers would reinvestigate all 302 killings carried out by British troops. The paper said at least 500 ex-servicemen, many now in their 60s and 70s, would be “viewed as suspects” during the process. |
| The move was described to the Sun as a “brand new witch-hunt” by Conservative MP Johnny Mercer, a former army officer. | The move was described to the Sun as a “brand new witch-hunt” by Conservative MP Johnny Mercer, a former army officer. |
| The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) clarified that officers in the Legacy Investigations Branch (LIB) were reviewing all murder cases linked to the Troubles, including those carried out by loyalist and republican paramilitary forces, and state personnel. | The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) clarified that officers in the Legacy Investigations Branch (LIB) were reviewing all murder cases linked to the Troubles, including those carried out by loyalist and republican paramilitary forces, and state personnel. |
| “There is no new single probe or bespoke inquiry into deaths attributed to the British army,” said assistant chief constable Mark Hamilton, head of the PSNI’s legacy and justice department. “All Troubles-related deaths will be reviewed by LIB using the case sequencing model, which does not prioritise military cases. This is not a new decision.” | “There is no new single probe or bespoke inquiry into deaths attributed to the British army,” said assistant chief constable Mark Hamilton, head of the PSNI’s legacy and justice department. “All Troubles-related deaths will be reviewed by LIB using the case sequencing model, which does not prioritise military cases. This is not a new decision.” |
| The Ministry of Defence would provide legal representation for all affected soldiers, a spokesman told the Guardian. | The Ministry of Defence would provide legal representation for all affected soldiers, a spokesman told the Guardian. |
| The PSNI announced in 2013 that it would review all killings attributed to the military, following a report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) that year which found that troops and police officers could face murder or manslaughter charges for killings that occurred when they were on duty. | The PSNI announced in 2013 that it would review all killings attributed to the military, following a report by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) that year which found that troops and police officers could face murder or manslaughter charges for killings that occurred when they were on duty. |
| The report criticised the LIB’s predecessor, the Historical Enquiries Team (HET), for failing to treat killings attributed to British troops in the same way as those believed to have been carried out by paramilitary forces. After the report, PSNI announced it would revisit all military-related cases “to ensure the quality of the review reached the required standard”. | The report criticised the LIB’s predecessor, the Historical Enquiries Team (HET), for failing to treat killings attributed to British troops in the same way as those believed to have been carried out by paramilitary forces. After the report, PSNI announced it would revisit all military-related cases “to ensure the quality of the review reached the required standard”. |
| In 2014, the LIB took over responsibility for investigating the 3,200 homicides that took place during the Troubles. Rather than treating cases chronologically, the LIB looks at forensic opportunities, available witnesses and other investigative material when deciding which cases to tackle first, a spokeswoman for the PSNI explained. The branch’s workload includes 238 incidents attributed to British troops, the spokeswoman confirmed. | In 2014, the LIB took over responsibility for investigating the 3,200 homicides that took place during the Troubles. Rather than treating cases chronologically, the LIB looks at forensic opportunities, available witnesses and other investigative material when deciding which cases to tackle first, a spokeswoman for the PSNI explained. The branch’s workload includes 238 incidents attributed to British troops, the spokeswoman confirmed. |
| The Sun reported that 302 people died in these incidents, which were mostly shootings, and that many of the incidents involved several personnel opening fire, meaning at least 500 veterans will have their cases reviewed. Half the dead are believed to be IRA or loyalist fighters, while the others are civilians, the paper said. | The Sun reported that 302 people died in these incidents, which were mostly shootings, and that many of the incidents involved several personnel opening fire, meaning at least 500 veterans will have their cases reviewed. Half the dead are believed to be IRA or loyalist fighters, while the others are civilians, the paper said. |
| It said that some of those whose cases will now be re-examined were given pardons in the 1998 Good Friday peace deal, or received “letters of comfort” from Tony Blair assuring them they would not face prosecution. | It said that some of those whose cases will now be re-examined were given pardons in the 1998 Good Friday peace deal, or received “letters of comfort” from Tony Blair assuring them they would not face prosecution. |
| Prosecutions stemming from killings during the Troubles are extremely rare. The Irish News journalist Allison Morris, who has reported extensively on the legacy process, has identified six criminal prosecutions resulting from such review processes in the past 18 years, all of which have taken place in the past five years. None of the prosecutions were of armed forces personnel or police officers. | Prosecutions stemming from killings during the Troubles are extremely rare. The Irish News journalist Allison Morris, who has reported extensively on the legacy process, has identified six criminal prosecutions resulting from such review processes in the past 18 years, all of which have taken place in the past five years. None of the prosecutions were of armed forces personnel or police officers. |
| The process of investigating unsolved murders by state forces as well as by loyalist and republican paramilitary units was a key aspect of 2015’s Fresh Start agreement. | The process of investigating unsolved murders by state forces as well as by loyalist and republican paramilitary units was a key aspect of 2015’s Fresh Start agreement. |
| Mercer told the Sun: “This is a brand new witch-hunt, as well as total and complete betrayal by the government of those who have done its bidding.” | Mercer told the Sun: “This is a brand new witch-hunt, as well as total and complete betrayal by the government of those who have done its bidding.” |
| A spokesman for James Brokenshire, the Northern Ireland secretary, told the Sun that the PSNI acted independently of the government. | A spokesman for James Brokenshire, the Northern Ireland secretary, told the Sun that the PSNI acted independently of the government. |
| He added: “While this government firmly believes in upholding the rule of law, we are concerned that investigations into Northern Ireland’s past focus almost entirely on former police officers and soldiers. This is wrong, and does not reflect the fact that the overwhelming majority of those who served did so with great bravery and distinction.” | He added: “While this government firmly believes in upholding the rule of law, we are concerned that investigations into Northern Ireland’s past focus almost entirely on former police officers and soldiers. This is wrong, and does not reflect the fact that the overwhelming majority of those who served did so with great bravery and distinction.” |
| A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “The overwhelming majority of those who served in Northern Ireland did so with great bravery and distinction. Any member of the military affected by this process will rightly be supported throughout, and will have free Ministry of Defence legal representation.” | A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “The overwhelming majority of those who served in Northern Ireland did so with great bravery and distinction. Any member of the military affected by this process will rightly be supported throughout, and will have free Ministry of Defence legal representation.” |