Bradley again defends killer soldiers

Posted by Jim on March 16, 2019

British Direct Ruler Karen Bradley is facing further criticism after she
praised the “courage and distinction” of British soldiers following the
Bloody Sunday decision to prosecute one of them for murder.

Fourteen civil rights demonstrators died when British paratroopers
opened fire on their protest in January, 1972. Bradley paid tribute to
members of the Crown Forces just hours after the prosecution decision
against one of the paratroopers was made known.

She said: “We are indebted to those who served with courage and
distinction to bring peace in Northern Ireland, and I have the deepest
sympathy for the suffering of the families of those who were killed on
Bloody Sunday and all those who lost loved ones during the Troubles.”

Bradley faced calls to resign last week after she told the House of
Commons that killings carried out by British soldiers and police are
“not crimes”, but rather actions of those “fulfilling their duties in a
dignified and appropriate way”.

In November, she said she wanted to find a way to get British soldiers
facing prosecution for murder “off the hook”. She said she was working
to find a way “that we can all be happy that our service veterans and
former police officers do not face harassment in the courts, do not face
disproportionate focus from the legal services.”

She has also declared that soldiers convicted of murder should be
eligible for early release under the terms of the 1998 Good Friday
Agreement.

Bloody Sunday Trust chairman Tony Doherty called on Bradley to resign.

Mr Doherty, whose father Patrick was one of those killed in the Bloody
Sunday massacre, said: “Her crassness is fathomless. The British army
did not bring peace. To the people of Derry, the Parachute Regiment
brought murder, mayhem and injustice.”

Her comments also mean she is not an appropriate person to appoint a
successor to Police Ombudsman Michael Maguire, according to one of his
predecessors.

Nuala O’Loan, who in 1999 became the north’s first police ombudsman,
said Karen Bradley’s involvement in appointing a replacement for Mr
Maguire would undermine trust in the police watchdog.

“I don’t think she is capable of being perceived as impartial and I
think it’s critical for trust in the police ombudsman’s office that the
person appointed can be seen to have been appointed impartially,” she
said.

“It is a function of the secretary of state, that has to be exercised
but she is not the person who can exercise it.”

Mrs O’Loan said that although Bradley had apologised for her more
controversial statements, she it was “very clear that that is the way
she thought”.

“My view would be that if she remains in post and makes the appointment
there may well be questions about the impartiality of the candidate she
appointed because she has said what she has said,” she said.

“It’s not to reflect on anybody who might be appointed but simply trust
in the police ombudsman’s office is critical to the operation of it and
I think what she has said has indicated that she is not impartial.”