Hilary Benn highlighted that since the Good Friday Agreement, only one British soldier has been convicted of a Troubles-related death, emphasizing the very small number of prosecutions among the 250,000 veterans. Labour aims to repeal the Northern Ireland Legacy and Reconciliation Act, which has been deemed incompatible with human rights law. Concerns from veterans about potential investigations and prosecutions were acknowledged, especially during protests from over 176,000 individuals opposing changes to the legislation. Critics express fears that removing the act could lead to renewed legal actions against them.
Hilary Benn stated that only one soldier has been convicted over a Troubles-related death since 1998 while justifying Labour's plans to repeal the Northern Ireland Legacy and Reconciliation Act.
Benn emphasized that the concerns of veterans regarding prosecutions for historical offences were taken seriously, noting that the number of prosecutions against veterans is extremely small.
Research by the Centre for Military Justice indicated only one soldier had been convicted of a Troubles-related offence since the Good Friday Agreement, underscoring the low likelihood of prosecution.
RAF veteran David Holmes expressed fears that repealing the legacy act could lead to a reopening of investigations and a flood of prolonged prosecutions against veterans.
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