In a stirring call to action, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, a former royal aide and SAS officer—and godfather to Prince George—has joined the Daily Mail’s campaign to shield British troops from legal action decades after their service during the Troubles.
The campaign, titled Stop The SAS Betrayal, urges the UK government to reconsider its move to repeal parts of the Legacy Act that currently protect Northern Ireland veterans from prosecution.
The campaign stems from a controversial case involving 12 SAS soldiers who killed four IRA operatives in 1992—an incident a coroner has now labeled “unlawful,” raising the possibility of murder charges.
A Soldier’s Perspective on Justice
Lowther-Pinkerton, once private secretary to Princes William and Harry, did not mince words.
Speaking out despite the regiment’s usual code of silence, he described the legal pursuit of these veterans as a “disgraceful injustice.”
According to him, lawfare—the use of legal systems against soldiers—poses a threat more dangerous than any the SAS has faced in combat.
He warned: “Either we protect our SAS soldiers as they’ve protected us—or we risk losing the regiment altogether.”
Voices of Support and Warnings of Consequences
The campaign has gained serious traction.
Over 155,000 people have signed a petition supporting the SAS soldiers, prompting a parliamentary debate scheduled for July 14.
Former veterans minister Johnny Mercer and MPs like Sir David Davis and Mark Francois are also backing the initiative.
David Johnstone, Northern Ireland’s Veterans’ Commissioner, described the government’s proposed changes as “immoral” and a “two-tier justice system” that unfairly targets military personnel.
Re-Enactment of Clonoe Incident
To challenge the coroner’s verdict, a re-enactment of the 1992 Clonoe shooting is in the works.
The Ministry of Defence hopes this reconstruction—designed to demonstrate that the IRA fired first—will lead to a judicial review.
Former Regimental Sergeant Major George Simm insists that forensic evidence and witness accounts support the soldiers’ version of events.
A Deep Dive into SAS Culture and Integrity
Lowther-Pinkerton wrote passionately about his time in the regiment, recalling the funeral of a fellow SAS soldier who embodied humility, selflessness, and courage.
He described the values that define SAS culture: the pursuit of excellence, unwavering moral discipline, humility, and a classless merit-based system.
He added a fifth, personal principle: “Decency.”
He pointed to the moral compasses of his comrades, stating, “Three of my children have SAS godfathers—not for their combat skills, but for their values.”
Call to the Nation
In his closing remarks, Lowther-Pinkerton warned that unless the British government acts to protect its veterans, it risks losing one of the country’s greatest strategic assets.
He declared his full support for the campaign, urging the public and politicians to remember the sacrifices made by SAS soldiers—not just in battle, but in defending the principles the country holds dear.