In November I spent a week in Northern Ireland visiting areas where I served on Op BANNER including Londonderry and South Armagh. The process was in some ways cathartic and the changes I saw helped me deal with the deaths of my friends Steve Cummins and Miles Amos killed by PIRA 35 years ago. A podcast about the visit will be released at the end of this month.
Was it worth it? On the whole I would say yes. And it was great to see people living normal lives free of fear. The elephant in the room however is legacy prosecutions.
Visiting Bessbrook we reflected on the fact that the last soldier killed on Op BANNER was LBdr Stephen Restorick. He was shot on February 12, 1997, and an IRA man convicted of the murder went on to be released after serving just 16 months of a sentence running into hundreds of years for numerous terrorism offences.
As reported in the article “This week the Government started the process of formally repealing the law, which came to be known as the Legacy Act. The decision means that more soldiers could follow Soldier F in being taken to court in connection with counter-terrorist military and police actions in Northern Ireland between 1966 and 1998.”
Bloody Sunday was a terrible chapter in the violent history of The Troubles. Yet terrorist murderers were given so called letters of comfort assuring them that the threat of prosecution was no more. Others were filmed cheering and laughing as they were released early from decades long sentences.
Pádraig Delargy, the Northern Ireland Assembly member for Foyle, which includes Londonderry, said:
“This is a vindication for the Bloody Sunday families who, over five decades on, have not given up in their fight for truth and justice.
“As the families’ courageous campaign goes on, Sinn Fein will continue to stand by their side every step of the way.”
Whilst I have every sympathy for these families the double standards being applied is hard to stomach. The GFA required all sides to make some difficult compromises. It’s about time this Labour Government did the same and stopped legacy prosecutions for all those involved. If it’s good enough for the parents of Stephen Restorick it should be good enough for everyone else.
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