Investigations into UK soldiers in N Ireland are immoral, Tory MP says

A Tory former defence minister has said historic investigations into British soldiers in Northern Ireland are "absolutely immoral", as he backed a time limit for bringing prosecutions.

Sir Gerald Howarth said it was unacceptable that veterans who fought in the "filthy war" in Northern Ireland faced being dragged from their beds in dawn raids for questioning.

Sir Gerald and fellow Tory MP James Gray also condemned Phil Shiner, the controversial human rights lawyer who brought thousands of complaints against British soldiers for their actions in Iraq.

Mr Shiner was struck off on Thursday after being found to have acted dishonestly in bringing murder and torture claims against veterans.

Speaking in a backbench debate about the armed forces covenant, Sir Gerald said he was "very pleased" to hear Mr Shiner had been struck off.

Sir Gerald added: "Frankly I don't think that's enough, but then I always was a supporter of capital punishment."

DUP defence spokesman Sir Jeffrey Donaldson had earlier urged ministers to consider "a statute of limitation" for British veterans in Northern Ireland.

Sir Gerald said: "I think it is absolutely immoral that those men who fought in that filthy war, wearing the Queen's uniform, facing an enemy wearing civilian clothes, lurking in the shadows amongst a civilian population, having done their best for their country are now being dragged from their beds at six o'clock in the morning in dawn raids and being dragged off to Northern Ireland.

"I think it's unacceptable and I'm afraid to say to my friend on the front bench this is not a matter simply for the police services of Northern Ireland, or for the prosecuting authorities.

"It is, as I've told the Prime Minister, a matter for ministers.

"This is a matter of public policy and it must be addressed, and I strongly endorse the case made by him for a statutory limitation."

Sir Jeffrey said that men and women who served in Northern Ireland "are now waiting for the knock on the door".

He added there was too much focus on investigating the actions of the armed forces and police in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, instead of on the actions of terrorists.

Sir Jeffrey said: "I close by encouraging the minister and his colleagues, and their colleagues in other departments that are involved in this issue, to give serious consideration to the introduction of a statute of limitations, that would protect the men and women who have served our country, and who deserve that protection.

"I recognise that no one is above the law, but when cases have been investigated in some cases not just once, but twice previously, and when the men and women who served our country have been exonerated, only to find years later that those cases are being reopened, then I think there is something wrong."

Sir Jeffrey warned such investigations were having a big impact on recruitment to the armed forces.

He added: "Young men and women are looking at what's happening and asking themselves, why would I join the armed forces, if I face the prospect in the future that I might be prosecuted?

"I really do think the Government needs to act on this. They need to protect the men and women who protected us in our darkest hour."

Mr Gray, former shadow Scottish secretary, said the Iraq Historical Allegations Team (Ihat) was "absolutely outrageously criticising 4,500 of our soldiers".

Most of the cases being investigated by Ihat were brought by Mr Shiner's now-defunct Public Interest Lawyers.

Mr Gray said: "It looks as if there's going to be as few as 60, probably fewer than that, prosecuted. This is an absolute disgrace."

Sir Gerald added: "I felt at the time that man Phil Shiner was a disgrace.

"He was a dreadful man engaged in a cowardly and unacceptable activity of trying to find people who would stand up and accuse his fellow countrymen, who have gone to relieve the people of Iraq from their suffering, and he went to try and do down those people.

"I'm very pleased to hear today he's been struck off."