Around 20 former members of the SAS who shot dead IRA gunmen more than 30 years ago are facing murder charges, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.
Details have been disclosed for the first time in a letter sent to every British Army regiment by the SAS Association, the first step in a military-style fightback launched by senior SAS officers called Project Verity.
SAS leaders are considering a ‘mass expression of outrage’ by the UK’s two million veterans.
The letter, which has been obtained by the MoS and National Security News, says: ‘We are about to see a surge of Northern Ireland cases instigated by nationalist activists and targeted at individual veterans.
‘They are fundamentally designed to undermine the British State and its military forces and rewrite the history of the Troubles whilst persecuting ad infinitum scores, possibly hundreds, of former soldiers, decades on from their service.
‘We have recently seen around 20 former Special Forces officers and soldiers referred to the Director of Public Prosecution for investigation, with a view to charging them for offences as serious as murder and conspiracy to murder relating to operations in Coagh and Clonoe in 1991 and 1992.
‘In most cases the terrorists in question were heavily armed and died as a result of their own misadventure, often killed whilst… being arrested when caught in the act of trying to commit murder.
‘These cases are now hijacked by activists seeking to wreak vengeance on former soldiers under the pretence of searching for further truths from more than 30 years ago.’
The Government is in the process of repealing the Legacy Act, which banned inquests and offered conditional amnesty to those suspected of crimes relating to the Troubles
SAS leaders are considering a ‘mass expression of outrage’ by the UK’s two million veterans
Three members of the IRA were killed by the SAS at Coagh, and four at the Clonoe ambush.
The Government is in the process of repealing the Legacy Act, which banned inquests and offered conditional amnesty to those suspected of crimes relating to the Troubles.
Yesterday, an ex-SAS officer told the MoS it was absurd former members of the regiment could stand trial for murder when senior officials and politicians were involved.
The MoD said: ‘We recognise the dedicated service and sacrifice of the Armed Forces… in Northern Ireland during the Troubles and are committed to supporting veterans.
‘There can be no rewriting of history. The approach taken by the previous government through the Legacy Act… has been found by the courts to be unlawful.’
It said it aims to ensure there are legacy mechanisms in place that are fair, lawful and proportionate.
