A pledge to set a 10-year time limit on prosecutions without compelling new evidence for historic incidents involving soldiers on operations was supposed to be included in today’s Queen’s Speech. But it appears to have been dropped, prompting warnings that being falsely accused of “war crimes ruins careers, marriages and fuels the fire of PTSD”. Lawyers also told of their “dismay” over the decision as the pledge would have protected veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.. 

Hilary Meredith, Chair of Hilary Meredith Solicitors and Visiting Professor of Law and Veterans’ Affairs at the University of Chester said: “I am dismayed by the lack of protection for military veterans who were doing their duty and following orders. 

“Creating a new Office of Veterans’ Affairs was a step in the right direction – but failing to protect veterans from legacy prosecutions in the Queen’s Speech is a worrying omission. 

“If the PM is committing to legislating on this issue, why the delay? Nothing is more important than protecting the men and women who serve their country. 

“Serving soldiers and veterans need greater legal protection – and they need it now.” 

Seven British veterans face prosecution for shooting incidents in Northern Ireland during The Troubles despite having been investigated and cleared at the time. 

Another 278 cases involving Northern Ireland veterans are understood to be under investigation. 

Yet under Tony Blair’s 1998 Good Friday Agreement 300 IRA terrorists were freed from prison early and about 150 suspects were given Letters of Comfort or On the Run Letters guaranteeing they would not be prosecuted. 

The promised 10-year Statute of Limitations was intended to apply to all operations including Syria and Afghanistan but specifically excluded Northern Ireland. 

Lance-Corporal Brian Wood won the Military Cross for bravery in Iraq – only to be falsely accused of war crimes at a public inquiry nine years later. 

He said: “Failing to legislate in the Queen’s Speech is a missed opportunity to stand behind our service personnel and veterans. 

“Being falsely accused of war crimes ruins careers, marriages and also fuels the fire of PTSD and trauma on the battlefield. To get these false allegations thrown at you is a bitter pill to swallow.” 

Veterans are planning to protest outside Parliament on Saturday when it meets in an emergency session over Brexit. 

Previous demonstrations have brought central London to a standstill amid fury over a “betrayal” by successive Governments over conflicts including Iraq, Syria and Northern Ireland. 

Among veterans being dragged over to Northern Ireland to face trial is Dennis Hutchings, 78, from Cornwall, whose case goes to court next March in Belfast. 

Mr Hutchings, who is seriously ill, was twice investigated and cleared of any wrongdoing over the shooting on a patrol and was mentioned in dispatches for his bravery in Northern Ireland. 

He wants the 10-year limit for all operations to protect soldiers wherever they serve so they do not have to go through what he has endured – including being arrested at his home in front of his family. 

He said: “Boris Johnson promised an end to the witch-hunts at the beginning of his premiership. He set up a Ministry for Veterans but that has done nothing. 

“I cannot believe that this Government is prepared to sell us veterans down the river like this. 

“I am convinced it is part of a deal with the Taoiseach. If reports are right and it has been left out of the Queen’s Speech, Boris Johnson needs to know that there are four million veterans in this country – and that’s four million votes that they have lost. 

“Parliament is meeting in emergency session next Saturday and we are planning to organise a veterans’ demo. The MPs will be there – and so will we.” 

The Minister for Defence People and Veterans, former Army officer Johnny Mercer, said: “I’m the Minister tasked by the PM to end vexatious and repeated prosecutions against veterans. No-one has ever asked for an amnesty – which would be wrong. 

“Neither would that ever have been in this Queen’s speech, so it can’t have been ‘dropped’. 

“The problem is, this is an incredibly sensitive issue that can be resolved, but not whilst those who seek to only use it for political ends inflame the debate using terms such as ‘amnesty’. If the kids back out of this debate, we might get somewhere.” 

Lord Dannatt, a former chief of the general staff, said: “Nobody is above the law. 

“If soldiers have broken the law and if there is evidence to back up charges against them, then of course they must face the rigours of the law and take the consequences. 

“But in the vast majority of cases, British soldiers, particularly in the campaign in Northern Ireland, got up in the morning to do their duty to keep the peace according to the rules of engagement we had, in sharp contrast to terrorists who got up in the morning whose aim was to maim and kill.” 

A Downing Street spokeswoman said: “The PM has been clear that we need to end the unfair trials of people who served their country when no new evidence has been produced and when the accusations have already been exhaustively questioned in court. 

“There are different views on how to move forward and effectively address the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland – that said, we are determined to make progress and legislate on the issue of legacy prosecutions. 

“Our clear and overriding objective remains to provide a better way to address the past for all those affected by the Troubles – the Northern Ireland Office has consulted on the question of legacy prosecutions and we are engaging with the main parties in Northern Ireland, MPs in Westminster and wider society across Northern Ireland on the issue.

“This is so that we can reach a broad consensus and set out detailed, balanced and fair proposals on the best way forward.” 

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