The ComRes poll highlighted concerns that those who fought during the conflict, in which more than 3,500 people died, will now fall victim to a “witch hunt”. People were asked whether they believed “Soldiers who served in NI during the Troubles should be given immunity from criminal prosecution relating to allegations during conflict”. When “don’t knows” were excluded, 67 per cent of respondents said soldiers should be given immunity. The poll also uncovered anger that suspected IRA fugitives were sent “comfort letters” assuring them they were n’t sought by prosecutors. Two out of three people (66 per cent) who expressed an opinion wanted them rescinded.

The Government is considering new rules to protect soldiers from prosecution, but it is feared Northern Ireland veterans will be left out. DUP MP Sammy Wilson warned it would be “cowardly” of the Government to fail to grant equal protection.

He said: “The soldiers who served in Northern Ireland served on the same basis as soldiers who served in Afghanistan and in Iraq.

The main problem is the hounding of people who served in Northern Ireland for political reasons.”

Jim Shannon, a DUP MP who served with the Ulster Defence Regiment, said: “Everyone I speak to on this issue tells me they don’t want to see them prosecuted.

“It angers people whenever they see those who have been given on-the-run letters whereas soldiers in uniform are being prosecuted at the highest level.”

Col Richard Kemp, who commanded UK forces in Afghanistan, said: “The terms of the Good Friday Agreement were never considered fair.

“British soldiers who have already been cleared of alleged crimes should never have been allowed to be retried decades after the events in question.”

ComRes interviewed 2,041 GB adults online on May 15 and 16.

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