British veterans press for fair deal on Northern Ireland legacy act, minister says

British armed forces minister AL CARNS on Friday unveiled plans to repeal and replace the Legacy Act governing investigations into the Troubles in Northern Ireland. He said the proposed changes would help service families obtain the truth while shielding veterans from a long-running cycle of legal action. The package, tied to a broader commitment to remember the Troubles while avoiding retribution against those who served, includes six protections for Northern Ireland veterans and creates a new statutory advisory group to sustain an accurate record of history.

CARNS noted that hundreds of British service personnel fought and died to bring peace and security to Northern Ireland during the Troubles. He said nine in ten civilian and military casualties occurred at the hands of terrorist organizations, and he recalled city-scale bombings and the daily killings of civilians, service members and officials from Brighton to Birmingham. The minister said Northern Ireland was on the brink of civil war, and that the success of security operations helped create the conditions for lasting peace. He argued that the legacy of the conflict continues to loom over the nation and that many families are still seeking truth about their loved ones. The notes also reference the Bloody Sunday case and the trial of former Lance Corporal Soldier F, which were tied to the 1972 killings before the 2023 Act.

Six protections are being introduced to safeguard veterans while pursuing historical truth. No veteran will be forced to travel to Northern Ireland as a witness, including those based there; information requests can be made remotely; the Commission will consider veterans' health and wellbeing, with the option for anonymity for elderly witnesses; no veteran will be cold-called; engagement will be supported by the MOD or relevant veterans’ associations to guide participants; and there will be no duplication of cases unless exceptional circumstances justify it. The package also provides for veterans to be represented in a new statutory advisory group to ensure the Troubles’ history is not rewritten, and to ensure ongoing governance and accountability throughout the process. Legal and welfare support will be available to anyone in the veteran community involved in the process.

CARNS stressed that history must not be rewritten and that veterans’ voices must be heard. He emphasized that the plan aims to balance truth with protections to prevent a repeat of perceived injustices while avoiding punitive measures against those who served with dignity.

The minister pointed to his own background, noting 24 years of military service and experience serving in Northern Ireland. He said that as a former serviceman who continues to serve as a reservist and now as a government minister, he understands the pressures of operating under fire. He framed the legislation as a continuation of his service—a structured, legally binding approach designed to deliver truth for service families while safeguarding the welfare of veterans.

In describing the effort, CARNS said the six protections and the accompanying advisory group would help ensure that history is preserved accurately, that families have avenues to obtain information, and that veterans are shielded from unwarranted legal exposure. He added that the government will stand with those who served and that the plan is intended to be implementable and legally robust. The aim, he said, is to ensure that no one rewrites the Troubles’ history and that the process respects the dignity, courage, and service of those who wore the uniform.