Stop Hounding Ulster Heroes, Son of Veteran Tells Minister
John Hutchings urges Northern Ireland Secretary to halt 'persecution' of veterans facing renewed investigations.
The son of an elderly veteran who died while on trial in Northern Ireland has called on a Labour minister to cease the "persecution" of troops. John Hutchings' father, Dennis, 80, faced an attempted murder charge in 2021, despite suffering from severe kidney disease and heart failure. The former Life Guards soldier died in a Belfast hospital midway through his court proceedings five years ago, a development that caused significant uproar among veterans.
John Hutchings recently joined campaigners in a private meeting with the Northern Ireland Secretary to appeal for Labour to support veterans. They urged Sir Chris Bryant to implement stricter limitations on cases brought against veterans, aiming to prevent what they describe as an attempt by republicans to rewrite history. This meeting occurred in anticipation of Labour's Troubles Bill returning to the House of Commons.
"I saw my father's health decline, but he stayed strong to the last for other veterans," John Hutchings stated. "He should have spent his last days with his family. Instead, he was staying in a Belfast hotel while standing trial. This sort of persecution has to stop. The pain is in the process." He further expressed concern that the same cases are being re-examined without new compelling evidence, adding, "I'm afraid when we met the minister, there was an ocean between his position and ours."
Under Labour's proposed Troubles Bill, veterans could face fresh criminal investigations and inquests, even if they have already been cleared of wrongdoing. One such case involves Soldiers A and C, who were formally acquitted in May 2021 of the murder of Official IRA leader Joe McCann in Belfast in April 1972. Despite their acquittal, they were informed in 2024 that they would face a fresh inquest.
Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris responded by stating, "Our commitment to our service personnel and veterans is unshakable. That will be clear in our package of amendments to the Troubles Bill, which includes provisions to prevent repeat investigations."
