The Mail on Sunday has reported that law firms behind a ‘witch-hunt’ probe into killings by British troops in Northern Ireland – including Bloody Sunday – are secretly receiving millions of pounds in legal aid. Solicitors are making huge sums by bringing cases on behalf of the families of IRA members killed or jailed during…
After much speculation and parliamentary debate, it has emerged that army veterans will be protected from prosecution for alleged historic abuses under plans to introduce a 10-year limit on new cases. Defence secretary, Gavin Williamson, is expected to bring forward the proposed legislation in this year’s Queen’s speech. It is believed that the legislation will…
This Friday, 8 March, is International Women’s Day, a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. International Women’s Day (IWD) has occurred for well over a century, with the first IWD gathering in 1911 supported by over a…
I fully support the introduction of a new ID card for armed forces veterans, which will help them access specialist support and services. Any personnel who have left the military since December 2018 will automatically be given one of the new ID cards, which will allow them to maintain a tangible link to their career…
The BBC is reporting that military charities are not coping with the increased demand for mental health support. Shockingly, campaigners estimate that last year, at least 58 veterans took their own lives. The Ministry of Defence spends £22 million pounds a year on mental health for veterans, while the NHS has dedicated around £6m annually…
I was disappointed to read that less than a quarter of British organisations have heard of the Armed Forces Covenant. According to a new report – Benefit not Burden, commissioned by the Forces in Mind Trust – twenty-four per cent of companies have heard of the Covenant, which is a pledge made by the government…
There is an excellent column by Johnny Mercer, Conservative MP and member of the Defence Select Committee, in today’s Daily Mail. The statute of limitations – veterans protection inquiry is an “investigation into the question of how former service personnel can be protected from the spectre of investigation and re-investigation for events that happened many…
Congratulations to the whole team at Hilary Meredith Solicitors for securing our highest ever ranking in this year’s Legal 500, the leading guide to law firms in the UK. The Legal 500 praises Hilary Meredith Solicitors for its personal injury and military expertise. It’s particularly satisfying to see our work on behalf of service personnel…
The Defence Secretary has said that women will be able to apply for any role in the military for the first time. Gavin Williamson announced that women serving in the Army are now able to transfer into infantry roles, including the special forces, such as the SAS. He said for the first time the “armed…
The Ministry of Defence is looking into suicide rates among veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts. Cases where former servicemen and women have taken their own lives will be the focus of the research. It will look into the causes of death among those who left the Armed Forces. It’s been reported that more…
I was terribly saddened to hear of the demise of yet another great law firm, Roberts Jackson. Not only was founder Karen Jackson a neighbour, her office was near to mine in Wilmslow. She is a good friend and an excellent lawyer. Karen prides herself on excellence and invested in the training of her staff…
New figures show that more injuries are caused during training than in any other activity for full-time members of the Armed Forces. The figures have been published in the same week as families and lawyers call on the Ministry of Defence to be stripped of its immunity from prosecution after two SAS servicemen were acquitted…
Two soldiers face a court martial, beginning today, for negligence in relation to the deaths of three reservists, who died after a 16-mile training march in the Brecon Beacons – but military lawyer Hilary Meredith says it is the MoD that should be in the dock. The men, named only as 1A and 1B, both…
Military staff who worked on Sea King helicopters, which have been in service since 1969, are being warned they may have been exposed to asbestos. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is urgently removing parts suspected of containing the harmful material from its aircraft and, according to The Mail on Sunday, thousands of engineers may be…
An Army captain has been jailed for 18 months after a soldier was killed during a live firing exercise. Capt Jonathan Price was also dismissed from the Army by the court martial for the gross negligence manslaughter of Ranger Michael Maguire. The 21-year-old was hit by a stray bullet at the Castlemartin Range, Pembrokeshire in…
Congratulations to Stuart Andrew MP on his appointment as Under Secretary of State in the Ministry of Defence with responsibility for procurement, a position first held by Philip Dunne MP (2015-2016) and then, more recently, by Harriett Baldwin MP 2016-2018. The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State is responsible for the Equipment Plan, defence industry and…
In a letter to leaked to the press, it has emerged that Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has backed an amnesty for IRA killers as the price for ending the witch-hunt of historic prosecutions against British troops serving in Northern Ireland during The Troubles. The witch hunt against our veterans needs to stop but a statute…
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson yesterday visited Broughton House and praised the care it provides to veterans and its vision for the future. The Defence Secretary met with veterans, staff and board members during his tour and learned more about Broughton House’s redevelopment plans. The two-acre site is to be transformed into a Veterans’ Care Village…
The countdown continues to Armed Forces Day 2018, which takes place this Saturday 30 June. Armed Forces Day is a chance to show your support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community: from currently serving troops to Service families, veterans and cadets. There are many ways for people, communities and…
I welcome the MoJ’s announcement that guidance for its legal aid safety net will be amended to make it easier for families of people who have died in custody to receive public funding. Legal aid is currently provided under the government’s exceptional case funding (ECF) scheme. However, the Lord Chancellor’s guidance now makes clear that…