Prosecution time limits for troops must include RUC: Robinson

Gavin Robinson said it was too early to say if the ‘statute of limitations’ proposal could become law, but said the principle is being strongly backed by the parliamentary Conservative party.

“The [defence] committee can only discuss issues relating to the armed forces, but obviously politically we would be very keen that the RUC is included too,” he said.

“This is really just the start of the process, but the time frame, no matter how long it is, if it’s going to consider Iraq and Afghanistan then it has to include Northern Ireland.”

The East Belfast DUP MP said discussions within the committee had been very limited to date and he was unclear how many members were fully behind the introduction of a statute of limitations, but said he has already made it clear he would not personally support a wider amnesty for Troubles-related deaths.

The committee is meeting on Tuesday when it will be addressed by four legal experts – including Kieran McEvoy, professor of law and transitional justice at Queen’s University Belfast. It is thought the experts will flag up concerns around the legal difficulties with placing time limits on prosecutions.

“We are not interested in a general amnesty as that seems to be talking about drawing a line under Northern Ireland,” Mr Robinson said.

“We are looking at maybe anything in the last 30 years, and if it has been investigated before, and people have been exonerated, then it can’t be reopened.

“The most important thing with the time frame, whether it be 20 years or 30 years it’s British soldiers in every theatre, not just Northern Ireland, and it’s not just Northern Ireland MPs asking for this, the Conservatives are putting a lot of pressure on Theresa May to do it.”

Commenting on whether the proposed statute of limitations could lead to former paramiltaries escaping justice, Mr Robinson said: “At the moment it’s already terribly imbalanced. If you are a paramilitary and you are found guilty of something from during the Troubles you will serve two years. If you are a soldier or a policeman and you are found guilty you serve the full term, so that’s an imbalance.

“The second imbalance is the on-the-runs and the Royal Prerogative of Mercy where every effort from the Labour government was made to protect paramilitaries. They have done nothing to protect soldiers.”