'WITCH-HUNT': Why do IRA terrorists walk free but Northern Ireland vets face PROSECUTION?

TERRORISTS are freely walking the streets while the Government shamefully launches “a witch hunt” against heroic Northern Ireland war veterans, according to 1,500 people who marched on Downing Street today.

The Justice for Northern Ireland Veterans group, joined by Mike Hookem MEP, took to the streets to protest against the launching of criminal investigations into historic alleged crimes committed by soldiers on the front line.
One veteran, 75-year-old Dennis Hutchings, was woken up by police in December, who charged him with the attempted murder of an IRA suspect in 1974 while he was serving Queen and country in Armagh.
The Good Friday Agreement, signed off by Tony Blair, allowed 500 convicted terrorists linked to the IRA to walk free, something seen as “a grave injustice” by ex-forces personnel who are now watching their own colleagues face prosecution.

Veterans claim the vast majority of post-conflict charges relating to Northern Ireland are being made against British soldiers, not former IRA members who already have terrorism offences to their name.
In an emotional speech delivered in front of the Houses of Parliament, Alan Barry, event organiser for Justice for Northern Ireland Alan Barry said: “These actions by the British Government are a betrayal of all that we hold dear.
“No British soldier ever went on patrol with the intention of committing a crime, no British soldier ever placed a bomb in a pub full of innocents and no British soldier ever placed a bomb underneath a police vehicle.
“Prime Minister, please do not allow this appalling situation to continue.”

UKIP

Northern Ireland veterans marching to Downing Street in protest at historic prosecutions

UKIP

The 1,500 veterans protesting outside Downing Street

Mike Hookem MEP, Ukip’s spokesman on veterans’ affairs, blasted: “War is a dirty, brutal business, no matter the legal definition you give it, and over nearly 40 years, the troubles in Northern Ireland claimed more than 3,500 lives.
“However, of the combatants, for every paramilitary killed two members of the armed forces and security services lost their lives.
“And while I mourn the members of our brave forces, I remain unapologetic for the deaths of terrorists, who had criminally taken up arms to force a change the majority in Northern Ireland did not want!
“As far as I’m concerned, those who live by the sword, often die by the sword, and that is why it is so disgusting that veterans now face prosecution. 

UKIP

Mike Hookem MEP gave a rousing speech in support of British veterans

“But rather than being thanked, veterans today live in fear of a knock at the door to be asked questions about the events of a lifetime ago.
“And the odds of being targeted in this post-conflict 'witch-hunt' seem to be growing.”
A petition was handed in at Downing Street demanding the end of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland and the British Government stop criminal proceedings against military men and women for actions undertaken during the Northern Ireland conflict.

UKIP

Dennis Hutchings is facing a historic charge of attempted murder dating back to 1975

UKIP

Veterans complain that IRA terrorists have been let free but soldiers face trial

Jeffrey Donaldson, DUP MP for Lagan Valley, served in the military and witness two of his brothers being killed by the Provisional IRA.
He told Express.co.uk: “I served in the armed forces and I’m appalled some veterans in their 70s are being arrested and charged with killings in NI during the troubles. This is despite the fact that over 90 per cent of the deaths were carried out by terrorist paramilitaries - why is nobody going after them?
"We need to bring this nonsense to an end.”
Danny Kinahan MP Ulster Unionist Party for South Antrim and a fellow veteran, said: “I want to see a great wave of support for our veterans. We’ve got one angle in Northern Ireland getting away with everything but British soldiers being dragged back to the courts. It’s totally wrong.”
Mr Hutchings, who is still facing a historic charge of attempted murder, said: “This is abuse against soldiers who fought in Northern Ireland. It’s not just about me, there are hundreds of ex-soldiers being investigated. That’s fine, but make sure they investigate the terrorists as well.”

Belfast twelfth of July parade turns to riots

Tue, July 14, 2015

Riots erupt during the twelfth of July Parade on Woovdale road in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Play slideshow

Getty Images

1 of 28

A protester stands near a fire as police officers dressed in riot gear attempt to contain Loyalist rioting along the controversial Ardoyne flashpoint area in Belfast

Express.co.uk contacted Downing Street for comment about today’s march and a spokesman said: “This Government salutes the remarkable contribution of our Armed Forces and the RUC to securing the peace in Northern Ireland. We are very conscious of the huge debt we owe them.
"The government is wholly committed to finding a lawful, fair, balanced and proportionate way forward for legacy issues in Northern Ireland. We are also very mindful of the fact that some 90 per cent of all deaths in the troubles were caused by terrorists.
"Without new bodies to address the legacy of the past, murders by terrorists won’t be investigated any time soon and victims, including families of brave serviceman killed, are less likely to see justice.”

 http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/760092/IRA-Northern-Ireland-Theresa-May-Downing-Street-Good-Friday-Agreement-Ukip

NWN: Many more pics and detail on the link.