Eastwood questions 'vexatious' narrative asking how many of 25,000 Troubles prisoners were British soldiers
Colum Eastwood asked Chris Bryant how many of the 25,000 people who served time during the Troubles were members of the British security forces as the NI Troubles Bill was debated at Westminster this week.
“It would be good if the Secretary of State cleared something up for the House.
"We have heard a lot about justice, vexatious claims and everything else. Will he tell us how many of the 25,000-odd people who served time as a result of troubles-related crimes were members of the security forces?” asked the Foyle MP.
Mr. Bryant said he did not know the precise answer to the question but acknowledged that Mr. Eastwood had ‘made his point’.
Earlier this year Mr. Bryant’s predecessor Hilary Benn reminded British MPs how between 25,000 and 35,000 paramilitaries were sent to prison during the Troubles.
“The number of service personnel convicted of Troubles-related offences was very small, only one in the last 28 years, whereas between 25,000 and 35,000 paramilitaries were sent to prison during the Troubles and of the current ten live cases, eight relate to paramilitaries accused of killing or attempting to kill soldiers or police officers,” Mr. Benn told the House of Commons in June.
Mr. Eastwood raised the disparity as the NI Troubles Bill was debated at Westminster.
The bill passed the British House of Commons on Tuesday and will now be sent to the British House of Lords for debate.
The legislation is designed to replace the controversial 2023 NI Legacy Act that included an amnesty for British soldiers accused of atrocities during the Troubles.