The crying shame
A court has acquitted two former British soldiers of murdering Joe McCann, an IRA leader, in Northern Ireland in 1972. In fact, the judge said he found it ‘remarkable’ that they had been prosecuted at all, given the evidence. What is remarkable about the prosecution, and scores like it, is not so much the evidence, but that they are allowed at all.
Clearly, British servicemen must be held accountable for their actions. We cannot allow ill-discipline to turn them into a vengeful, savage murderers like, for instance, the IRA. However, the instant Tony Blair and his cronies gave numerous IRA figures get-out-of-jail-free cards, the British Armed Forces should have been afforded the same protections.
It is unacceptable for only one side’s alleged crimes to be investigated. Either they both are, or neither are.
Would it not be simpler, and more conducive to the continuing peace, if some kind of statute of limitations were quietly introduced?
