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Your support makes all the difference.<\/strong>Read more<\/p>\n The Government should halt any legislation that could lead to prosecutions of British armed forces veterans for their service in Northern Ireland<\/a> during the Troubles<\/a>, a former Tory cabinet member has said.<\/p>\n Sir David Davis<\/a> said the attempts to put veterans through the legal system for their actions while serving in Northern Ireland was a \u201crewriting of history\u201d.<\/p>\n He said it could jeopardise the Ministry of Defence\u2019s plans to increase recruitment and retention of personnel.<\/p>\n The former Brexit secretary said the Government\u2019s repealing of the Legacy Act could lead to people being tried for events that happened decades ago.<\/p>\n During a debate in the Commons on Armed Forces Day, Sir David said: \u201cThere\u2019s a shadow that hangs over our armed forces, a political and legal vendetta targeting the veterans of Northern Ireland of Operation Banner.<\/p>\n \u201cThese men answered their country\u2019s call at one of our country\u2019s darkest hours.<\/p>\n \u201cWithout hesitation they stood between the innocent and the terrorists, often literally, often in the way of the bullet, and now, decades later, they\u2019re treated not as heroes but as suspects.<\/p>\n \u201cThe frankly inadequately informed inquest over the SAS IRA conflict at Clonoe was just once incident in which elderly veterans are being persecuted, and there will be many more.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cThis campaign of persecution sends a chilling message to the next generation. Serve your country, risk your life and face prosecution in your old age.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy would any young man or woman sign up for that? The truth is, many will not.\u201d<\/p>\n The Government has started the process of repealing the Legacy Act, introduced by the previous Conservative government in 2023, after it was subject to legal action by Troubles\u2019 victims families.<\/p>\n Part of the Act\u2019s measures include shutting down all historical inquests, which examine incidents from the Troubles where suspected IRA members were killed.<\/p>\n An inquest this year in Northern Ireland found soldiers\u2019 use of force in Clonoe in February 1992, where four IRA terrorists were shot dead, was excessive and no attempts were made to arrest them.<\/p>\n The men were killed minutes after they carried out a machine gun attack on a Royal Ulster Constabulary station.<\/p>\n Veterans and military charities are concerned that the repeal of the law could allow soldiers to be charged decades after military operations.<\/p>\n