KAREN Bradley, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, should hand in her resignation following ill-judged and insensitive remarks to the House of Commons ("Bradley at centre of row over Ulster deaths comment", The Herald, March 7).
Ms Bradley, who openly admitted on her appointment to this post that she knew very little about the history of Northern Ireland, does not appear to have tried to remedy this shocking lack of knowledge despite the nature of her post.
Prosecutors will decide next week whether or not soldiers will face trial for the killing of 13 innocent civilians on January 30,1972 and Ms Bradley's comments must be viewed in that context. It is difficult to argue that she was not attempting to publicly interfere with the rule of law as the SDLP leader, Colum Eastwood, has claimed.
Earlier this week, Neil Mackay's article correctly declared that the right to justice must prevail in the case of soldiers charged with unjustified killings and false testimony regarding the infamous Bloody Sunday incident ("Why courts must now have their say on Bloody Sunday", The Herald, March 5). The Northern Ireland Troubles witnessed horrendous atrocities on both sides of the divide and every effort should be made, wherever and whenever possible, to carry out justice for those who have suffered.
It is no surprise that jingoistic MPs like Ms Bradley and, indeed, Boris Johnson, wish to sweep the British Army's responsibility for the murders of unarmed men under the historical rug. Mr Johnson's entreaty that the soldiers were "only obeying orders" appears not only erroneous but also carries highly sinister historical connotations.
Mr Mackay astutely observed that the creation of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission following the conclusion of the Good Friday agreement could have allowed the families who had endured injustices to draw a line under the past with dignity and hope for the future. However, though this was not to be, there is an opportunity now for the UK Government to demonstrate transparency and impartiality by allowing the courts to have their say on the accountability of the British military on Bloody Sunday.
Britain has a responsibility to itself and to all the people of Northern Ireland to honour those killed during the Troubles, regardless of time lapsed or those, like Karen Bradley and Mr Johnson, who would make political capital out of denying the quest for justice and rectitude.
Contrary to Ms Bradley's original comments, the military cannot, and must not, be an exception to prosecution. To suggest this is to support state-sponsored murder, irrespective of era or circumstance.
Owen Kelly,
8 Dunvegan Drive, Stirling.
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