Hyde Park brother: How can it not be in public interest to bring suspected terrorists to trial?

In 1982 Trooper Simon Tipper was one of four soldiers murdered by the IRA during the Changing of the Guard in Hyde Park, London. Yesterday in Westminster his brother Mark told MPs and Lords why he is raising funds for a private action for justice:
By The Newsroom
Published 26th Apr 2017, 14:11 BST
Updated 9th May 2017, 19:06 BST
Mark Tipper kneels at the memorial to his brother, Trooper Simon Tipper, in Hyde Park LondonMark Tipper kneels at the memorial to his brother, Trooper Simon Tipper, in Hyde Park London
Mark Tipper kneels at the memorial to his brother, Trooper Simon Tipper, in Hyde Park London

My brother Trooper Simon Tipper and three other British soldiers were murdered by terrorists during their Changing of the Guard procession to Buckingham Palace. They were doing their duty protecting the Queen.

Our loved ones pledged their lives to this country. Yet, one government after another has turned its back on them, and us.

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One thing that would help us greatly is to learn the truth of who was responsible and see them held to account. But, rather than ease our pain, the government has just made it worse.

Trooper Simon Tipper, 19, was one of four soldiers killed in the IRA bomb attack on the Household Cavalry at Hyde Park, London in 1982.Trooper Simon Tipper, 19, was one of four soldiers killed in the IRA bomb attack on the Household Cavalry at Hyde Park, London in 1982.
Trooper Simon Tipper, 19, was one of four soldiers killed in the IRA bomb attack on the Household Cavalry at Hyde Park, London in 1982.

In 2014, the chief suspect walked free from the Old Bailey because of a shameful and secret deal by Tony Blair with the IRA. Because of this, we’ve been forced to take our own private legal action.

Instead of backing us, the Legal Aid Agency has refused again and again to fund this case on irrational grounds, including, absurdly, that justice in this case isn’t in the public interest. How can it not be in the public interest to bring suspected terrorists to trial?

We have been made victims three times over. First by the bomb, then by Blair and now by the bureaucrats of the Legal Aid Agency.

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• Morning View: MPs across the spectrum are waking up to the legacy scandal

Mark Tipper at the memorial to his brother, Trooper Simon Tipper, in Hyde Park.Mark Tipper at the memorial to his brother, Trooper Simon Tipper, in Hyde Park.
Mark Tipper at the memorial to his brother, Trooper Simon Tipper, in Hyde Park.

• Click here to make a donation to the Hyde Park families legal fund

Over the years, after every terrorist attack, we’ve seen governments pledge the victims and survivors every support. They promise to leave no stone unturned to bring the killers to justice. The tragedy is that, all too quickly and often, these commitments are forgotten.

The fact is that our government does not do enough for victims of terrorism in this country. There’s not enough long-term support and care – we’ve never been offered any. But, worst of all, there’s not enough access to justice.

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Sometimes, state prosecutions fail or cannot be brought. We understand that. But when they do, the victims should be given every support possible to bring their own legal actions. Instead, we’re blocked at every turn and it leaves us wondering: whose side is the government on?

Trooper Simon Tipper, 19, was one of four soldiers killed in the IRA bomb attack on the Household Cavalry at Hyde Park, London in 1982.Trooper Simon Tipper, 19, was one of four soldiers killed in the IRA bomb attack on the Household Cavalry at Hyde Park, London in 1982.
Trooper Simon Tipper, 19, was one of four soldiers killed in the IRA bomb attack on the Household Cavalry at Hyde Park, London in 1982.

What message are we sending to terrorists if we say – you can attack our capital, murder our troops, police and innocent civilians and be left to walk free and not answer for your crimes?

Where will the British victims of Mumbai, Tunisia or Paris atrocities be in 30 years time?

Unless our government does more and takes its responsibilities to victims more seriously, the risk is they will be where we are now: without support, without justice and having to resort to begging the British public for help.

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Why does our government abandon our victims so routinely? Why do we continue to let it?

Mark Tipper at the memorial to his brother, Trooper Simon Tipper, in Hyde Park.Mark Tipper at the memorial to his brother, Trooper Simon Tipper, in Hyde Park.
Mark Tipper at the memorial to his brother, Trooper Simon Tipper, in Hyde Park.

All we are seeking is the truth about who murdered our loved ones. The only way to do that is to bring the chief suspect to court, a man who has been linked by police files to six separate terrorist attacks.

£400 million in government money and legal aid was spent on the Saville Inquiry to establish the truth about 13 killings during the Troubles.

We are asking for just 0.2% of that amount to determine the truth about the murder of four British soldiers at the hands of terrorists.

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When it comes to justice, it begs the question: is a British soldier’s life worth less?

To make matters worse, all the while the state continues to pay for endless inquiries, inquests and court hearings against veterans of our armed forces and security services.

Any unlawful killing should be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent. This imbalance, inequality and injustice must come to an end. Appeasing one terrorist group can only encourage another.

If the LAA won’t do the right thing, we’re asking for the prime minister to step in and do so. We’d like to invite her to meet with us. It’s in her power, not just to help us in our fight for justice, but to do better for all victims and veterans who served this country.

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We hope she will succeed where her predecessors have failed.

Morning View: MPs across the spectrum are waking up to the legacy scandal

SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN: Click here to make a donation to the Hyde Park families legal fund

Related topics:MPsHyde ParkIRAQueenLondonBuckingham Palace