Thousands to march over 'witch-hunt' against troops who served in Northern Ireland amid anger over decision to re-examine historical deaths during the Troubles

• Hundreds of ex-soldiers are facing murder or manslaugter charges 
• The rally has been organised by Justice For Northern Ireland Veterans
• Northern Ireland police investigating every army killing in fight against IRA
• Veterans group says they are being unfairly treated but terrorists were released  

Thousands of campaigners will march on Parliament today demanding an end to the ‘witch-hunt’ against troops who served in Northern Ireland.

They are calling on Theresa May to halt the ‘appalling’ decision to re-examine historical killings during the Troubles.

Up to 1,000 ex-soldiers, many in their 60s and 70s, are now potential murder or manslaughter suspects over actions at the height of the IRA’s campaign.

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The marchers are angry at what they claim is a witch hunt against British troops who served in Northern Ireland

The Prime Minister was urged to act over the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s controversial move to hold a fresh investigation into every Army killing in the fight against Irish republican terrorism.

The rally, which begins in Horse Guards Parade and ends in Parliament Square with rousing speeches, has been organised by the protest group Justice For Northern Ireland Veterans and is expected to attract 2,000 campaigners.

They will hold up 200 placards, each bearing the name of a soldier, police officer or civilian murdered by the IRA in Ulster.

The Daily Mail has long campaigned for an end to the hounding of our troops.

Justice For Northern Ireland Veterans says action is unjustly being taken against soldiers while IRA members who committed atrocities get off scot-free.

The group wants to highlight the disparity in treatment between the veterans and 187 on-the-run paramilitary suspects who received ‘comfort letters’ from Tony Blair’s government which told them they were not being sought by police.

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Up to 1,000 ex-soldiers, many in their 60s and 70s, are now potential murder or manslaughter suspects

Organiser Alan Barry, who served in the Grenadier Guards, said: ‘We want to show the imbalance between the terrorists who received get-out-of-jail-free cards giving them immunity from prosecution and the unacceptable decision to prosecute British soldiers.

‘We want to send a message to Parliament that we will not tolerate the hounding of veterans who went to Northern Ireland on the side of law and order to fight terrorism.

‘To haul them before the courts is grotesque.’

Tory MP Julian Lewis, chairman of the Commons defence committee, is set to speak at the event. He has demanded an end to the prosecutions and says the Government should pass a statute of limitations to prevent veterans facing legal action over the killings.

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The rally will be addressed by Conservative MP Julian Lewis, chairman of the Commons defence committee

This would effectively grant immunity to those who served in Ulster from 1969 to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

Retired soldier Dennis Hutchings, who is facing an attempted murder charge over a fatal shooting more than 40 years ago, will also attend the rally.

The 76-year-old said the veterans had been ‘abandoned’ by ministers.

He said: ‘It is imperative we get the politicians to start listening. My gripe is that they and the serving generals in the Ministry of Defence are not speaking out and trying to stop this injustice.’

The Police Service of Northern Ireland’s taxpayer-funded Legacy Investigation Branch is re- examining 302 deaths during the Troubles.

Critics are angry that, although 90 per cent of the 3,500 killings in Northern Ireland were at the hands of terrorists, the investigation has focused on the actions of British forces.

The former soldiers’ treatment has been compared to that of John Downey, who escaped prosecution for the 1982 Hyde Park bombing because he was given a police guarantee of immunity.

Downey has always denied involvement and pleaded not guilty at the Old Bailey in 2014. 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5346707/March-protest-Northern-Ireland-soldiers-witch-hunt.html#ixzz563Mn5Epp