COPS probing British veterans over decades old shootings in Northern Ireland want the inquiry system overhauled to make it less one-sided.
Detective Chief Superintendent Rowan Moore, head of the Legacy Investigations Branch, said: “We recognise that the existing system does not satisfy everyone.”
He challenged politicians to come up with a better framework after HOAR revealed that not a single IRA terrorist is being investigated over the murder of 722 British troops who were killed in the Troubles, since 1969.
At the same time 12 British soldiers have been warned they could face murder charges over shootings more than 40 years ago.
A further six elderly vets, including terminally ill Dennis Hutchings, 79, have been dragged through the courts on historic allegations that were investigated at the time.
Deborah Wilkins, 56, whose soldier father Roger was shot by an IRA sniper in 1971, said: “The old soldiers get prosecuted, but for all I know my dad’s murderers are still out there.”
Dt Supt Moore added: “We would welcome any attempts to better meet the needs of those who lost loved ones.
“What any new legacy architecture or approach should look like is of course a matter for our politicians.
“To be effective in meeting the needs of those who lost loved ones and move us forward as a society it needs to be capable of commanding the support and confidence of the entire community.”
Boris Johnson signed HOAR’s Veterans’ Pledge in 2019, vowing to protect Northern Ireland vets from repeated and vexatious investigations.
But he has missed two deadlines to introduce a bill, prompting anger from backbenchers.
Mark Francois accused the government of dragging its feet and urged the PM to “knock heads together”.
“All we are asking is that he keeps his solemn public promise and thus defends those who defended us,” he said.
The Government said it was “committed to introducing legislation to address the complex legacy issues in Northern Ireland”.
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