More than fifty years after the Troubles, another elderly British Army veteran has found himself pulled back into the spotlight—this time, in what supporters are calling a “show trial.”
The decision to prosecute the 78-year-old former paratrooper, known only as Soldier B, has reignited debate over how Britain treats its veterans compared to those once involved in paramilitary violence.
Veteran Faces Fresh Charges Decades After Being Cleared
Soldier B is now accused of attempted murder over an incident that occurred in West Belfast on May 12, 1972, during one of the most turbulent periods of Northern Ireland’s history.
The veteran had long been told he would not face charges after a 1997 decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions found insufficient evidence to proceed.
However, that ruling has since been overturned—something many in the military community see as a politically motivated reversal rather than one based on new facts.
Sources have described the renewed prosecution as part of a wider campaign by Republican groups to target former British soldiers from the Troubles era.
A Growing Sense of Betrayal Among Former Soldiers
For veterans who served in Northern Ireland, the news has sparked frustration and anger.
Many believe they are being unfairly singled out while former members of paramilitary organizations face far less scrutiny.
General Lord Dannatt, the former head of the British Army, condemned the case, saying it represented a form of “two-tier justice.”
He argued that former soldiers, many now in their late seventies and eighties, should not be facing courtrooms decades after the events in question—especially when no new evidence has surfaced.
What Happened on That Day in 1972
According to reports, Soldier B was part of a patrol in the Andersonstown area when troops spotted a gunman.
Shortly after, a rifle was found nearby, and a man identified as Eugene Devlin, a suspected IRA member, was shot and injured.
Soldier B has consistently denied firing the shot, and no witnesses have ever claimed he did.
Devlin, who was later killed that same year during a separate gun battle with British forces, was buried with full IRA honors.
His earlier wounding is now at the center of the revived legal case.
Veterans Feel the Real Punishment Is the Process
Northern Ireland veterans commissioner David Johnstone described the renewed prosecutions as more about “appeasement than seeking truth.”
He emphasized that even when soldiers are eventually acquitted, the lengthy and public legal proceedings inflict significant emotional and financial strain—often lasting years or decades.
“They should not be dragged through elongated legal processes,” he said, warning that many veterans feel abandoned by the government they once served.
Mounting Pressure on the Prime Minister
There have been growing calls for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to step in and prevent older veterans from being put on trial for historic incidents unless there is new, compelling evidence.
Critics argue that the continued pursuit of these cases undermines faith in the justice system and damages relations between veterans and the state.
This latest development follows the high-profile case of Soldier F, who was cleared of murder charges related to Bloody Sunday, further highlighting divisions over how the UK should handle legacy cases from the Troubles.
A Long-Running Campaign for Justice
The Daily Mail has long campaigned against what it describes as “witch-hunts” targeting ex-servicemen who served in Northern Ireland during one of the UK’s most dangerous internal conflicts.
Many veterans’ organizations are now renewing their appeals for reform, calling for compassion and closure rather than continued prosecution.