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| NI secretary James Brokenshire: Troubles inquiries 'not working' | |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| The Northern Ireland secretary of state has said inquiries into killings during the Troubles are "disproportionately" focused on the police and the army. | The Northern Ireland secretary of state has said inquiries into killings during the Troubles are "disproportionately" focused on the police and the army. |
| Writing in The Sunday Telegraph James Brokenshire said it was "clear" that investigations into more than 3,500 deaths were "not working". | Writing in The Sunday Telegraph James Brokenshire said it was "clear" that investigations into more than 3,500 deaths were "not working". |
| Police are re-investigating all deaths from the Troubles. | Police are re-investigating all deaths from the Troubles. |
| A number of ex-soldiers are facing prosecution over killings carried out during the 30-year conflict. | A number of ex-soldiers are facing prosecution over killings carried out during the 30-year conflict. |
| 'Past rewritten' | 'Past rewritten' |
| Mr Brokenshire, who took the post last July, said: "It is also clear the current focus is disproportionately on those who worked for the state - former members of the Armed Forces and the RUC." | Mr Brokenshire, who took the post last July, said: "It is also clear the current focus is disproportionately on those who worked for the state - former members of the Armed Forces and the RUC." |
| He said the "vast majority" of police and the armed forces served "with great courage, professionalism and distinction". | He said the "vast majority" of police and the armed forces served "with great courage, professionalism and distinction". |
| He added: "We are in danger of seeing the past rewritten." | He added: "We are in danger of seeing the past rewritten." |
| The Legacy Branch of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is re-investigating Army killings as part of a review into all deaths during the Troubles. | The Legacy Branch of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is re-investigating Army killings as part of a review into all deaths during the Troubles. |
| More than 3,500 people died between 1969 and 1998, of which 302 were killed by members of regular regiments of the British army. | More than 3,500 people died between 1969 and 1998, of which 302 were killed by members of regular regiments of the British army. |
| London law firm Devonshire said it was representing between 10 and 15 former soldiers facing prosecution for a number of killings, including those on Bloody Sunday. | London law firm Devonshire said it was representing between 10 and 15 former soldiers facing prosecution for a number of killings, including those on Bloody Sunday. |
| The firm said it been told there could be as many as 1,000 former soldiers facing prosecution. | The firm said it been told there could be as many as 1,000 former soldiers facing prosecution. |
| Barra McGrory QC, the director of public prosecutions for NI, recently told the BBC a number of cases had been coming to court due to inquests and referrals from the Attorney General for Northern Ireland. | Barra McGrory QC, the director of public prosecutions for NI, recently told the BBC a number of cases had been coming to court due to inquests and referrals from the Attorney General for Northern Ireland. |
| He said: "We have taken decisions in three army cases recently, one was not to prosecute and in the other two prosecutions have been initiated." | He said: "We have taken decisions in three army cases recently, one was not to prosecute and in the other two prosecutions have been initiated." |
| Kenny Donaldson, a spokesman for Innocent Victims United, welcomed Mr Brokenshire's comments, which he said "merely reflected a statement of fact". |