OK, your starter: how many people did the British army kill during the Troubles? Yes, that’s right – 300. Some put it at 299, some at 301, but in the region of 300.
Now, how many British soldiers were imprisoned for these killings? That’s an honest question – I don’t know the answer. But I’m willing to bet anyone whatever’s in my wallet that the number is less than 6, and that they stayed in prison for less than 4 years.
Which is why I find it odd that any politician here is surprised or outraged by the British government’s plan to introduce legislation that will protect British soldiers from prosecution for killings in the North of Ireland.
Here, for example, is Colum Eastwood, SDLP leader:
“If true [that this legislation is on its way], this will be the biggest betrayal of victims by the British government.”
Here’s Naomi Long, Alliance Party leader: “I believe that they [the victims’ relatives] deserve justice where that is possible; however, at the very least, they deserve not to learn of Government plans on Twitter”.
I like that line of Naomi’s “where that is possible”; I like even more her indignation at the use of Twitter.
As for Colum, a question: are you Rip Van Winkle in disguise? Have you looked at how the British government has protected its soldiers over the thirty years of killings? And you are from Derry, right? Ever heard of Bloody Sunday? Ever noticed how many soldiers were imprisoned for that mass slaughter?
What surprises me is why the British government think it’s worth passing legislation to protect veteran ex-soldiers from murder charges. So far, they’ve done extremely well without any such legislation.
A final note for slow learners: the British army in Ireland has always killed with impunity. Anyone who thinks this proposed legislation is breaking fresh ground simply hasn’t been paying attention.
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