Latest news with #NorthernIrelandLegacyAct
Daily Mail
06-08-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Ex-Army chief criticises PM for giving key role to civil servant who invited Gerry Adams to wedding
A former Parachute Regiment boss has criticised the Prime Minister for appointing a civil servant who invited Gerry Adams to his wedding as his national security adviser. Lieutenant Colonel Simon Barry lashed out over Sir Keir Starmer 's decision in a scathing letter lambasting Labour 's plan to scrap the Northern Ireland Legacy Act. Lt Col Barry vented his frustration at the appointment of Jonathan Powell as the PM's national security adviser, who was given the job in November last year. Mr Powell, who previously served as Tony Blair 's chief of staff from 1995 to 2007, invited former Sinn Fein leader Adams and late IRA chief Martin McGuinness to his wedding in 2007. Neither eventually attended the ceremony. The 68-year-old is seen as one of the government's de facto diplomacy whizzes, having previously served as chief British negotiator on Northern Ireland from 1997 to 2007. More recently, he has had a hand in Labour's Chagos Islands 'surrender' deal. But writing to veterans minister Alastair Carns, Lt Col Barry - the ex-commander of the now defunct 10th Battalion Parachute Regiment - took aim at Mr Powell, and at the PM's approach to the Legacy Act, which protects UK troops from legal witch hunts. Lashing out at the government's plan to scrap the bill, Lt Col Barry wrote: 'A previous Labour government gave comfort letters to suspected terrorists and released many others from prison, where they had been held for murder and serious crimes. 'A link to the present is Jonathan Powell, who invited [Gerry] Adams and [Martin] McGuinness to his wedding party and is now the PM's security adviser.' The retired paratrooper said repelling the act would provide 'zero fairness' for Northern Ireland veterans - many of whom are now in their late 70s or 80s and could face being dragged into court for alleged incidents during their service. 'However, what it does - and is doing - is to enable the mass murderers to observe, while laughing at, the UK Government blundering about in a self-harming process that they themselves have created,' the veteran army officer continued. 'And in parallel they continue to rewrite history as the victorious British Army is persecuted for doing its duty.' In his letter, Lt Col Barry accused Labour of betraying the troops who served in Northern Ireland and of reneging on its election promise to be 'on the side of veterans', which he branded as 'no longer believable'. 'The vast majority of veterans are from the working class as you well know,' he continued in his letter, which was shared by former Conservative veterans minister Johnny Mercer on X. 'They are baffled that Labour, who claims to represent the working class, are happy to throw them under a double decker bus in favour of the IRA.' Mr Powell took over the role of national security adviser to the government from Sir Tim Barrow. Announcing his appointment last year, Sir Keir said: 'Jonathan has devoted his career to protecting the interests of the country, having served for seventeen years as a diplomat in the Foreign Office and ten years as Chief of Staff in No10, and I am delighted to appoint him to this important role. 'Together with his experience helping to negotiate the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement and work on some of the world's most complex conflicts, he is uniquely qualified to advise the Government on tackling the challenges ahead and engage with counterparts across the globe to protect and advance UK interests.' Mr Powell said he was 'honoured' to have been given the top job which he described as 'hugely important role'. 'As the Prime Minister has set out, national security is at the heart of this country's response to the many challenges we face and having an integrated response will be crucial to our success,' he added. Last week the government was dealt a blow its plans to axe the Northern Ireland Legacy Act was delayed. Aided by the Daily Mail's own 'Stop The SAS Betrayal campaign', almost 200,000 backed the bid to ensure soldiers are not exposed to a witch-hunt in the form of misconduct claims from the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Tory defence spokesman Mark Francois said the Government had been 'rocked' by the backlash and had postponed a Commons bid to scrap the Legacy Act. He had expected Labour to present plans for alternative legislation before summer recess. But after a surge of public support for the Mail's campaign and a parliamentary debate, they were seemingly put on ice last week. The move may also be linked to a reported threat by Labour veterans minister Mr Carns to resign over the issue. Just under 180,000 people have signed the parliamentary petition, boosted by former SAS reservist Sir David Davis, to support veterans. The battle to preserve their legal protections – deemed unlawful by a court in Northern Ireland – is expected to resume this autumn.
RTÉ News
18-07-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Taoiseach, UK PM agree to work 'constructively' on Legacy Act issues
The Taoiseach Micheál Martin spoke with the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer by phone this afternoon, with both leaders agreeing to work constructively on a framework for dealing with issues surrounding the Northern Ireland Legacy Act. Mr Starmer's government has come under pressure in recent days, with his Veterans Minister Alistair Carns reported to have threatened his resignation should British soldiers lose their immunity. The UK government has committed to repealing and replacing the controversial legislation, however some Labour backbenchers have expressed concern. Ireland took an inter-state case against the UK under the European Convention of Human Rights, after the former Conservative government introduced the law. Today's phone call between Mr Martin and Mr Starmer was part of regular dialogue between both leaders and they agreed to continue working "constructively" on the Legacy Act. Separately, it is understood that Mr Starmer also thanked the Taoiseach for Ireland's support of the recent EU-UK Summit and subsequent agreement. During a "constructive" and "warm" phone-call, both leaders also talked about the Ireland-UK 2030 strategy which was agreed at the recent Ireland-UK Summit last march. It saw both countries sign up to closer cooperation in a number of areas including energy, security and trade. The relationship between both governments is understood to have improved significantly in recent months, since Mr Starmer embarked on a "reset" in relations between the UK, Ireland and other EU countries.
Telegraph
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Labour accused of ‘two tier justice' over legal aid for Gerry Adams
The Government has been accused of 'two tier justice' over legal aid for Gerry Adams. Earlier this year it was revealed that Mr Adams, the former Sinn Fein president, would be in line for taxpayer-funded compensation because of Sir Keir Starmer's decision to repeal Troubles legislation. Under current law, Mr Adams is blocked from claiming compensation over his detention in prison in the 1970s. Sir Keir's plans will repeal the Legacy Act introduced by the Tories, which denied Mr Adams and up to 400 other IRA 'suspects' also detained in the 1970s the right to claim compensation. The Ministry of Defence confirmed on Monday that it will seek a judicial review to challenge a coroner's ruling that could lead to SAS veterans being prosecuted for killing four IRA terrorists. The coroner found members of an SAS unit used unjustified lethal force when they killed four IRA terrorists in an ambush at Clonoe in 1992. The decision to commit to a judicial review came after James Cartlidge, shadow defence secretary, wrote to Al Carns, the veterans minister, asking for one. Mark Francois, shadow defence minister, told the Commons he welcomed the review but asked: 'Why not drop the plans to revoke large parts of the Northern Ireland Legacy Act which would only serve to facilitate yet more inquests of this type?' Mr Francois said: 'Revoking the Legacy Act would encourage a system of two tier justice. One for our army veterans and another for alleged IRA terrorists, including those who have been given so-called letters of comfort by the Blair regime.' He asked: 'Why should a Labour government assist Gerry Adams to sue the British taxpayer? How is that supporting those who served their country valiantly [in Northern Ireland] on Operation Banner?' Mr Carns, who served in Northern Ireland, insisted that he was working with the Northern Ireland Office to make sure anyone involved in any of the investigations gets the support they need. It comes as ministers were urged to give British troops 'maximum protection' from 'vexatious claims' in the courts if they are deployed to Ukraine on a peacekeeping mission. Tory MPs repeatedly pressed the Defence Secretary to confirm the Government would consider derogating from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) in the event of any deployment to remove risk of such claims. John Healey, the Defence Secretary, stopped short of offering a specific commitment. He did point to 2021 legislation designed to give stronger protections for service personnel and veterans facing the threat of legal proceedings in relation to events which occurred on historical overseas operations. The UK is working on deploying troops to Ukraine as part of any peace deal as part of a so-called coalition of the willing. Mr Cartlidge told the Commons: 'If our forces go to Ukraine it will be as part of a peacekeeping mission. 'But, as the veterans minister reminded us earlier, Operation Banner was also described as being there to keep the peace, yet decades later those who served are being hounded in our courts and, in Iraq, our soldiers were subjected to hundreds of vexatious claims. 'So, if our forces go into Ukraine, will the Secretary of State consider derogating from the ECHR so as to maximise our protection against possible lawfare?' Mr Healey replied: 'If we go into Ukraine, we will be going into a negotiated peace not a shooting war. Our aim is to secure borders, to ensure safe skies, to ensure safe seas. 'I'd just ask the honourable gentleman, is he saying that he will not support a UK mission and UK troops without that derogation?' 'Maximum protection to our Armed Forces' Mr Cartlidge replied 'of course not' and added: 'The Secretary of State knows perfectly well that the Labour government derogated from the ECHR after 9/11 and there's a country in Europe which has derogated from the ECHR since 2015 – that is Ukraine, it's because there's a war on. 'And surely he would recognise, even if it's a peacekeeping force, there will still be threats and Russian nationals have been particularly adept at lawfare in our own courts. 'So, I ask him, surely he will at least consider giving the maximum protection to our Armed Forces from vexatious claims by derogating from the ECHR if there is a deployment?' Mr Healey replied: 'Our Armed Forces will always have our fullest support. Just to be clear to the honourable gentleman, we are responding now, alongside France, to put together a coalition of the willing, responding to the challenge from the US for Europe to step up on Ukraine. 'We're responding to the requirement from Ukraine for security arrangements that will give them the conviction and confidence that any negotiated peace will last. 'That is a worthy mission, it's one the UK is leading and I would hope it has the support of all sides of this House.'
