Stop hounding Ulster heroes, son of veteran who died while on trial tells minister
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The son of an elderly veteran who died while on trial in Northern Ireland has told a Labour minister to 'stop persecuting troops'.
John Hutchings' father Dennis, 80, faced an attempted murder charge in 2021 despite suffering from a kidney disease and heart failure.
The former Life Guards soldier died in a Belfast hospital midway through his court ordeal five years ago, triggering uproar among veterans.
As the Daily Mail can reveal, John Hutchings joined campaigners at a private meeting with the Northern Ireland Secretary this week to appeal for Labour to back veterans.
They pleaded with Sir Chris Bryant to tighten restrictions on cases being brought against veterans to stop republicans attempting to rewrite history.
The meeting was held ahead of the return of Labour's Troubles Bill to the House of Commons next week.
John Hutchings said: 'I saw my father's health decline but he stayed strong to the last for other veterans.
'He should have spent his last days with his family. Instead he was staying in a Belfast hotel while standing trial. This sort of persecution has to stop. The pain is in the process.
The son of an elderly veteran who died while on trial in Northern Ireland has told a Labour minister to 'stop persecuting troops'. Pictured: John Hutchings
John Hutchings' father Dennis (pictured), 80, faced an attempted murder charge in 2021 despite suffering from a kidney disease and heart failure
'The same cases are being brought up again and again without compelling evidence that was not previously available.
'I'm afraid when we met the minister there was an ocean between his position and ours.'
Under Labour's Troubles Bill veterans face fresh criminal investigations and inquests, despite having already been cleared of wrongdoing.
Those cases include Soldiers A and C who in May 2021 were formally acquitted of the murder of Official IRA leader Joe McCann in Belfast in April 1972.
Despite their acquittal they learned in 2024 that they face a fresh inquest.
Last night Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris said: 'Our commitment to our service personnel and veterans is unshakable. That will be clear in our package of amendments to the Troubles Bill, which includes provisions to prevent repeat investigations.'
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