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Northern Ireland veteran kills himself after 'witch hunt' grilling by police - as it emerges four more ex-soldiers have been interviewed in connection with deaths during the Troubles

• Eddie 'Spud' Murphy killed himself on Thursday and was found by his wife 
• He is believed to have survived at least one IRA bomb attack while in Fusiliers 
• Six other British Army veterans are currently facing prosecution in N. Ireland 
• For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123, visit a local branch or go to www.samaritans.org 

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A Northern Ireland veteran killed himself after being quizzed by police as part of the legal witch-hunt into British troops.

His death came as four elderly veterans were dragged before investigators over deaths during the Troubles in recent days, it can be revealed.

Eddie ‘Spud’ Murphy, of 1st battalion, Royal Highland Fusiliers, was blown up by the IRA during his Army service but survived.

The father-of-three, 50, who also carried out a tour of Iraq, was found dead by his wife last Thursday.

Veterans said his death came as he was being investigated over his actions by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

They said the threat of prosecution had left him feeling ‘anxious and stressed’. 

Last night his friends said the legal witch-hunt into British troops had to stop, with veterans saying their comrades were ‘cracking up under the pressure’.

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Eddie ‘Spud’ Murphy, who was blown up by the IRA and also carried out a tour of Iraq, was found dead by his wife last Thursday at the age of 50

Last night his friends said the legal witch-hunt into British troops who served in the province had to stop, with veterans saying their comrades were ‘cracking up under the pressure’

The Mail can reveal that four elderly NI veterans, understood to be in their 60s and 70s, have also been interviewed under caution in the last few days.

The men, who served in the undercover Military Reaction Force in the 1970s, were quizzed over allegations of ‘collusion’ with paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland.

It comes after Boris Johnson signed off on new historical legacy unit that is expected to re-investigate all deaths during the troubles at the cost of as much as £350million.

In the latest Stormont deal, the government pledged to set up the controversial Historical Investigations Unit (HIU) within 100 days to look into Troubles killings.

The Prime Minister has said that he will protect troops from ‘unfair prosecution’ but it is still unclear how.

Defence minister Johnny Mercer has pledged to find a way to end the witch-hunt by mid-March.

Experts say the HIU will take at least three years to set up and could run for over a decade, resulting in hundreds of veterans waiting years for a knock on the door.

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In the latest Stormont deal, the government pledged to set up the controversial Historical Investigations Unit (HIU) within 100 days to look into Troubles killings

Andrew Sayers, who served in the army during the 70s in Northern Ireland said: ‘This is the first case I know of where you can attribute legal action of being a cause of depression and suicide.

‘You can see a clear cause and effect cycle here. Veterans who already have been investigated and cleared now see no end to their persecution but suicide. From their viewpoint they see no one they can turn to.

‘They are just cracking up under the pressure of it. Their faith in the legal system has gone. They’re on the edge.’

Mr Sayers, now an activist who is helping veterans facing prosecution, said: ‘There are a lot of folks who are emotionally distraught and feeling very vulnerable.

‘You just need to look at the suicides.’

Referring to the upcoming investigation by the HIU, he said: ‘The scale of it is going to be vast, it will make Iraq look like nothing.’

He said that four veterans had been questioned under caution in the last two weeks over deaths in Northern Ireland during the 70s.    

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The Government is facing calls to end a 'witch-hunt' against veterans, following the suicide of a Northern Ireland soldier whose actions during the Troubles were being investigated. Pictured: British soldiers on patrol in 1985 in Northern Ireland

Mr Murphy, who worked for a water company after owning a taxi firm in Dorking, Surrey, had tried to kill himself 3 times before he took his own life last week, his friends said.

They feared the pressure he felt at being investigated may have contributed to the tragedy.

Ben Ejbili, one of his former employees, said: ‘He was a lovely man. The kindest man you can ever meet.

‘He had been a soldier in Northern Ireland and during the Gulf War. He was struggling with his army past but rarely talked about it.

‘Everyone in Dorking loved Eddie.’

Former Colour Sergeant Trevor Coult said: ‘I’m hearing that he was suffering from anxiety and stress brought on by investigations into this service during the Troubles.

‘Veterans who served during the Troubles are riddled with injuries and stress and putting them on trial is the same as making them relive the trauma over and over again and it’s got to stop.’

One of Mr Murphy’s friends said on Twitter: ‘My friend took his life today. He served in N. Ireland, was blown up by the IRA and fortunate to survive.

‘More recently he was subject to the historic inquiry witch-hunt. He tried to take his life 3 times before, this time he succeeded.

‘A victim of the IRA. RIP Spud.’

He said his whole family served in the army, adding: ‘This is so tragic.’

His daughter, Zoe Murphy-Fawcett, posted on social media: ‘Thank you to everyone for your kind words on this incredibly hard day.

‘My family and I are so thankful. Rest in peace at last dad, I love you, always.’

One former veteran who served with him tweeted: ‘I was proud to know and serve with you Spud Murphy.

‘A young, dedicated soldier.’

He added: ‘End the witch-hunt of veterans.’

Another added: ‘This needs to stop. My dad was there on that (Bloody) Sunday in Ireland. And I don’t want these witch-hunts spreading further and further. This needs to stop.’

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Johnny Mercer, the veterans minister, wrote on Twitter to offer his condolences and promised the Government was working quickly to protect British soldiers from being forced through trials decades after serving their country

Ken Funston of victims’ group SEFF, whose brother was murdered in 1984, by the IRA, said that the current body looking into the Troubles – the Legacy Investigations Branch – had spent two years investigating the actions of the MRF.

‘It’s no surprise that four have been questioned under caution’, he said.

It was alleged that soldiers from the undercover unit, disbanded in 1973, used by the British army killed unarmed civilians.

The MRF consisted of about 40 men handpicked from across the British army and they were plain-clothed soldiers carrying out round-the-clock patrols of west Belfast.

They were tasked with ‘hunting down’ IRA members but it was alleged they shot unarmed civilians.

Mr Funston said: ‘The worry is, what is next? A number of people have been investigated again and again and again.

‘That is why it is vexatious as there have been so many knocks on the door. When is it going to stop?’

He questioned whether the money set aside for legacy investigations will be ‘fairly used’ and proportionally investigate deaths at the hands of terrorists.

NI veteran, Charlie, who served in the Royal Engineers in the 70s, has set up a local veteran’s community group which has helped dozens of Northern Ireland veterans.

He said: ‘If they were involved in a firefight then they are worried (about getting a knock on the door).

‘That worry gets in amongst everything else in their heads and you’ve got nightmares, panic attacks… just because you’ve served Queen and country.’

The 69-year-old, who has not been quizzed by the police yet but will ‘rip up’ any letter he gets through the door, said he had tried to commit suicide twice.

He said: ‘I still have nightmares now. We were shot and we were bombed. I can still feel the heat that came through vehicle when the bomb went off.’

He said given what he and his comrades dealt with, he felt ‘disgusted’ at their treatment now.

Defence minister Johnny Mercer tweeted: ‘I am aware of this, and my heart goes out to this individual and his family.

‘This Prime Minister has promised legislation to end vexatious and repeated prosecution of veterans without new evidence.

‘He tasked me to do it. By 18th March. And we will.’

A spokesman from the PSNI said they did not comment on named individuals.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8034379/Northern-Ireland-veteran-kills-witch-hunt-investigation-actions-Troubles.html 

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vKt-9rQsZ0

Stop the discrimination against British army veterans

by Dennis Hutchings

Armed forces

Lawyers: McCue & Partners LLP

United Kingdom

Dennis Hutchings

Case Owner 

 

 

My name is Dennis Hutchings. I served in the British Army for 26 years. Now I'm being prosecuted for a crime I did not commit because of discrimination against British veterans in Northern Ireland.

29

days to go

£6,548

pledged of £10,000 stretch target from 188 pledges

This case is raising funds for its stretch target. Your pledge will be collected within the next 24-48 hours (and it only takes two minutes to pledge!)

• About the case
• Comments

Who am I?

My name is Dennis Hutchings.  I served in the British Army for 26 years.
I was posted to Northern Ireland during the Troubles in the early 1970’s and I did several tours there. I did my duty as did many others. Now we are the subject of repeat investigations and prosecutions.

My story 

On 15 June 1974 John Patrick Cunningham was shot and killed in NI. This was a tragic incident. I did not shoot Mr Cunningham.
I was arrested at the time and after an investigation told in writing that the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed that I would not be prosecuted. In 2011 the Historic Enquires Unit of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) cold-case reviewed this matter and again I was told no action would be taken against me.
Then, out of the blue, on 21 April 2015 I was arrested at my home in England by police officers from Northern Ireland and taken the same day to Belfast where I was held for four days and interviewed on numerous occasions; more times, I’m told than Harold Shipman, believed to be history’s most prolific serial killer. I was then charged with Attempted Murder. I have been fighting this case ever since.
When I was arrested the then Director of Public Prosecutions in Northern Ireland was Bara McGrory, who previously had represented Martin McGuinness at the Bloody Sunday Inquiry and is stated on the Internet to have acted for Gerry Adams. Mr McGrory signed a certificate denying me a jury trial and I am to stand trial beginning on 9 March 2020.

I am not guilty of this or any crime. I dutifully served my country, am innocent, 78-years-old, suffer from ill health and, along with other veterans am the subject of a politically motivated witch-hunt.

Why we need your help
There is evidence that myself and another five veterans facing prosecution are the subject of discriminatory treatment by the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland.
While terrorists have been granted effective amnesties from prosecution, British Army veterans have been targeted in disproportionate numbers to be brought before the courts.

I am taking the following action to ensure what is happening to me does not happen to any of the other thousands of British Army veterans who served their country to protect the public from terrorism and civil unrest during the Troubles.

I have been advised by my legal team that the Government’s ongoing failure to protect veterans from unjust prosecutions in Northern Ireland is a possible breach of the Human Rights Act and should be challenged in the courts.

Please donate what you can to my campaign - every little helps - and share this page with friends and family on social media, and by email or WhatsApp.

Discrimination against veterans
During the Troubles, around 3,500 people were killed and very many more injured. Statistics show that 90% of the deaths were caused by terrorists (60% by Republican paramilitaries and 30% by Loyalists paramilitaries).  The number of state killings (by police and soldiers) stands at less than 10%.  It is incontrovertible that all paramilitary killings were criminal, while the state killings – with a handful of exceptions – were lawful.
I believe that anyone who commits an unlawful killing should face justice.  However, despite being responsible for around 2200 deaths, during the Troubles, all of which were unlawful, only a handful of IRA terrorists have been prosecuted since the Northern Ireland peace agreement in 1998.

Disproportionately, six British soldiers, including me, are now facing prosecution.  In fact, research indicates that veterans are 54x more likely to be prosecuted in Northern Ireland than IRA terrorists.  These number don’t add up and it is clear that veterans are being subject to discriminatory treatment.

This imbalance is due in the large part to a secret administrative programme which was run by the British Government between 2000 and 2014.  Because of it, at least 187 Republicans who feared prison for suspected terrorist offences received effective amnesties from prosecution under the now infamous ‘on-the-run’ scheme.  As a veteran, I don’t want an amnesty, not least because I’ve done nothing wrong.  I just want fair treatment.

What can we do
The British Government has promised to enact legislation by 18 April 2020 which will deal with Northern Ireland’s legacy issues, including how to address investigations and prosecutions of Troubles related incidents.  With only months to go, the draft bill, as currently written, still fails to provide any protection to veterans.
My legal team, led by barrister Dr. Austen Morgan, have written a Letter-Before-Action to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland calling on the British Government to make good on its election promises to give “veterans who served in the Troubles … the protection they deserve” and announce exactly what protections, come April, veterans will be given from unjust prosecutions.  We have given the Government 14 days to respond.
Should the British Government fail or refuse to commit to adequate protections then we may apply to the courts to compel the government to review its decision.
While a decision may not come in time to help me, I hope that this action will help all those other veterans who are currently wondering whether the next knock will be on their door.

How you can help
At this stage, it is impossible to know the final costs of any legal action.  We hope that the Government will see sense and that going to court will not be necessary.  I also hope that, should we need to proceed, the Ministry of Defence will also agree to cover my costs as part of its obligations to me as a veteran.  However, if the MOD refuses to support me and I have to go it alone, I will need to cover my own legal costs as well set aside funds to cover the government’s costs should the courts rule against me.
In the meantime, I need to raise £10,000 to cover current costs and to fund:

• Counsel’s continued advice and representation;
• The making of ongoing representations to the Government to seek a resolution;
• Further investigations and gathering of evidence;
• Representations to the MOD to secure funding for continuing legal action.

I am represented by solicitors McCue & Partners LLP and barrister Dr. Austen Morgan who was counsel to the Parliamentary Inquiry into the IRA ‘On-The-Runs’ scandal.  I am represented in the criminal proceedings by Devonshires Solicitors LLP in England and MTB Solicitors in Belfast.

Thank for for your support!

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/justice4veterans/?fbclid=IwAR0OoU6cdK0JKbcS5V4Rs2znBI-FoKqIzJ2pKAcXrc1LZ1hkFjUYommechw