OpenTube

Why Senior SAS Veterans Are Warning Against the Troubles Legacy Bill

Times Radio

75,976 views

More than 25 years after the Good Friday Agreement, Britain remains bitterly divided over how to resolve legacy cases from the Troubles. The government’s new Northern Ireland Troubles Bill would allow some halted inquests to resume and reform the system for investigating legacy cases, with ministers insisting that veterans will be protected from unnecessary repeat investigations.

But former senior SAS veterans Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton and George Simm argue it could reopen the door to repeated investigations that erode soldiers’ trust in the Government and ultimately weaken the SAS itself. Can Britain deliver justice for the past without undermining the soldiers it may need for the wars of the future?

Get in touch: generalandjournalist@thetimes.co.uk

00:47 – Inside the SAS
10:24 – Northern Ireland legacy lawfare
16:29 – Loughgall and shoot-to-kill claims
22:15 – How lawfare is damaging the SAS
27:30 – The fight to protect British soldiers
Guests: Former SAS Squadron Commander Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton and former SAS Regimental Sergeant Major George Simm

Hosts: Tom Newton Dunn

Producer: Julia Webster

Executive producer: Priyanka Deladia

Image: Kathia Mestanza, Getty

Read the best of our journalism: https://www.thetimes.com/
Listen live to Times Radio: https://www.thetimes.com/radio/live
Subscribe to The Times and The Sunday Times YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/subscription_...
Find us on Facebook: Facebook: timesandsundaytimes
Find us on X: https://x.com/thetimes
Find us on Instagram: Instagram: thetimes

20 Comments

@EnglishVeteran 3 days ago

26 yrs service & I learnt the British State is THE ENEMY WITHIN!

@audia4999 4 days ago

First class interview which provided a unique insight into the ongoing political injustices. Thank you.

@paulfuller9352 4 days ago

When you start eating your own you have already lost the war.

@Tee-mq2zn 7 days ago

This is such a maddening situation for our service people to be in and really unforgivable. George has the perfect solution in that it’s the PM and the cabinet that should be held to account for any actions where they approve ultimate force and not the soldiers carrying out these actions.
Just hope it can be successfully resolved.

@Bartimus543 6 days ago

The policymakers, i.e., government officials, mod and top brass, who gave the orders, are the ones who should be the ones held to account.

@phil9946 6 days ago

This is shameful by our politicians or anyone who supports doing this to our troops, and with the irony of saying that we should be prepared for a war with Russia in the next few years, at some point the people of this country need to find and appoint a leader who will put this great nation first, starting with our military 🇬🇧

@exAirMover 6 days ago (edited)

So under the Good Friday agreement, all unsolved "terrorist " actions are void/forgiven, yet any alledged "illegal " actions by British Forces are still subject to a Witch hunt??!!!
Yet another scathing reason why this Labour Government won't have anyone rallying to it when the war it's cooking up kicks off! 😒

@smonsk2572 4 days ago (edited)

If convicted terrorists are walking around free, & some of them holding office of state since the Good Friday agreement, then no member of the security forces should ever be charged with anything.
I honestly cannot think of any cogent argument that would support a position where one side in a bilateral peace agreement is not only safe from prosecution but also released from conviction, yet the other side is still threatened with sanction.
It’s despicable injustice. And an utter disgrace.
I speak as a victim of PIRA terrorism. With scars & memories that will chase me to my grave.

@jackshepherd1892 6 days ago

Hang on, they want to punish the SAS soldiers for 1. Following orders, 2. Terminating an aggressive threat, actively shooting at them and 3. Carrying out their duty in a literal war…. What?!

@icklecharlie5788 4 days ago

The process is the punishment.

@emilyrobinson3452 3 days ago

What a really interesting discussion, I loved it!

@wombal177jim 5 days ago

I'm sure the boys know, but it's not about the past it's about trying to bring us all down and that will never happen

@eonitawhitfield5734 4 days ago

It's a ploy to fill the lawyers pockets. People like Starmer and his mates.

@andygallagher6361 4 days ago

There is also the spectre of purposive slants on Articles 5 and 6 (as per the ruling in the Clonoe Inquest). We are effectively asking Judges to rule on the legality of what were, at the time, categorically combat operations. This is plainly wrong.

@davepimpedit4309 3 days ago

Thanks so much for your service. Your family should be proud of you. I am proud of my grandfather that served in the regiment.many years ago. God bless you all.

@gannet58555 4 days ago

So I served in 1 Para in the 80s...asked my CO at the time LtCol Mike Jackson that I wanted to join 22......he said no will let you have a crack at patrols/pathfinders, said 22 are one above craphats.....made me smile.

@10535m 6 days ago

Basically keep trying them until they get the "right" verdict. It's a joke.

@BionicRusty 4 days ago

Our Elite Men. 🙏

@Forest-lifestyle 6 days ago

Nothing good will become of the Country that starts publicly attacking its greatest Warriors.

@SimonParkes-ud4jn 5 days ago

A good lesson for all leaders is to understand that there are times when you need to step back and allow the right person in your team to step up. It is rare that you will be the best at everything and that isn’t your job - your job is to be the best at one thing - leading. Sharing that burden by allowing those who are brilliant at leading specific tasks to lead those tasks (whilst also giving them the space to develop) is not abrogation and does not display a lack of confidence. It’s mature self-confidence.