Column urges UK to drop endless probes into SAS actions during the Troubles

A column by former Army officer Col Nick Kitson published today calls for an end to ongoing probes into Special Air Service actions during the Troubles, arguing that the pace, framing and timing of inquiries do more harm than good to veterans and to Britain's national interests. The piece follows a July Westminster debate on the Legacy Act but says government action since then has been sporadic, culminating in a Friday press conference with a foreign government that proposed renewed measures.

Kitson questions whether the Irish government is an honest broker in these matters and whether its interests align with the UK's. He notes that investigations and inquests have disproportionately targeted the British Army, which he says accounted for only a small fraction of violence compared with that inflicted by terrorists. He points to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement and the broader process of decommissioning and immunity that followed, arguing that reopening such questions risks undermining that settlement.

The author contends that the Army's role in international diplomacy and security remains central to long-standing partnerships. He notes the Army's visibility in recent events with leaders in the United States and references the Prime Minister's praise of the service as a cornerstone of the US-UK special relationship, including discussions about its possible role in a Ukraine peacekeeping effort. He also criticizes the treatment of veterans in the courtroom, where cross-examinations by video link from home, anonymity and other procedures are seen as diminishing accountability for those who served.

Kitson argues that millions of pounds spent on inquiries and litigation have mostly benefited lawyers, while veterans and their families bear the human cost. He says that the nation should dedicate more resources to care, rehabilitation and other programs that support veterans, and that the government should focus on broader national priorities rather than pursuing endless probes.

The column also cites public campaigns such as the Daily Mail's Stop The SAS Betrayal, used to illustrate pressure over how SAS veterans are treated in courts. It frames these campaigns as part of a wider public debate about accountability, loyalty and the legacy of the Troubles.

In closing, Kitson discourages renewed emphasis on re-litigating the Troubles and urges policymakers to consider whether the Irish broker role and ongoing investigations align with the UK's broader national interests. The piece stresses that loyalty to those who served should be matched by prudent policy choices that support veterans today and avoid unnecessary inflaming of historic grievances while the international community watches evolving security challenges.