UK government to amend legislation protecting Troubles veterans, says Northern Ireland secretary
Sir Chris Bryant says the forthcoming bill will ensure no legal equivalence between British security forces and terrorists.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Northern Ireland secretary Sir Chris Bryant announced on Monday that the UK government will introduce a major amendment package to Parliament aimed at protecting former British security forces who served during the Troubles from repeat prosecutions.
What happened
The proposed legislation will codify that there is "no legal equivalence between the lawful action of brave British security forces and the deliberate acts of terrorists," and will treat past court rulings and coroner findings as final unless new, compelling evidence emerges. The bill is set to be presented to Parliament on Monday, four months after Bryant assumed the post.
What the reports add
- The Independent described the plan as a "big package of amendments" that will answer "every one of the key questions that people have asked us for".
- A separate bulletin from the same outlet called it a "major package of amendments" intended to end "rinse and repeat" legal challenges.
- The amendments follow concerns raised by fifteen former SAS and intelligence operators in the Independent’s podcast SAS: The Shadow War.
- The 2023 Legacy Act gave immunity to armed forces veterans and former paramilitary members who made full disclosures to the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICIR); Bryant’s changes will build on that framework.
- More than 300,000 personnel served under Operation Banner, the three‑decade UK military deployment in Northern Ireland.
- Veteran groups said they will wait to review the specific legal details before judging the proposal.
What was said
"We’re trying to make sure it is a fair process for everybody," Sir Chris Bryant told The Independent.
"What we are going to say in the bill is that there is no equivalence between the lawful action of brave British security forces and the deliberate acts of terrorists," he added.
"I don’t want people to have to undergo processes time and time and time again," Bryant said, referring to what veterans have called "rinse and repeat" prosecutions.
"The Legacy Commission cannot repeat a process that has been undergone elsewhere," he explained, indicating that past rulings will be treated as the final word unless compelling new evidence is presented.
How it came about
The move follows a campaign by veteran groups, including fifteen former SAS and intelligence operators, who highlighted ongoing legal jeopardy in the podcast SAS: The Shadow War. Earlier this year, the UK government faced criticism for perceived "lawfare" against former security personnel, prompting the current amendment effort.
Key facts
- Sir Chris Bryant announced a major amendment package to protect Troubles veterans from repeat prosecutions (independent.co.uk)
- The bill will state there is no legal equivalence between British security forces and terrorists (independent.co.uk)
- Amendments will treat past court rulings and coroner findings as final unless new compelling evidence is presented (independent.co.uk)
- The legislation is to be introduced to Parliament on Monday (independent.co.uk)
