A dying Army veteran facing trial over a fatal shooting in Northern Ireland 46 years ago has said that he will bring a Judicial Review on the grounds that British veterans are suffering ‘discriminatory treatment’ by the criminal justice system, in an attempt to halt the controversial case. Great-grandfather Dennis Hutchings, 78, is facing charges…
Press reports today suggest the Conservatives are pledging to end the “unfair trials” of soldiers accused of murders in Northern Ireland by banning inquests from returning verdicts of unlawful killings for deaths during the Troubles. The party is pledging to amend the Human Rights Act to exclude any death in Northern Ireland that took place…
A leading military psychiatrist has accused the government of failing in its duty of care to veterans. Neil Greenberg, Professor of Defence Mental Health at King’s College London, says former personnel are being left frightened and alone – despite the existence of the Armed Forces Covenant. Professor Greenberg says the promise to give priority health…
I am delighted to see the Office for Veterans Affairs officially launched this week. As part of the launch, ministers have announced that the new head of the OVA will be Col David Richmond, the former Recovery Director of Help for Heroes. Further details of what the office will do have also been announced, including…
It is encouraging to read that an increasing number of GPs are signing up to become ‘veteran friendly’ under a national scheme launched last year to improve medical care and treatment for former members of the armed services. The scheme, called the Military Veteran Aware Accreditation, has been adopted by NHS England and the Royal…
I am delighted and proud that the Westminster Centre for Research and Innovation in Veterans’ Wellbeing at the University of Chester, where I am Visiting Professor of Law and Veterans’ Affairs, has been shortlisted for the Military and Civilian Partnership Award at the Health Service Journal Awards 2019. The Westminster Centre for Research and Innovation in…
I am delighted Prime Minister, Boris Johnson is to establish Britain’s first dedicated veterans’ office with the aim of stopping the legal witch-hunt against our troops. Conservative MP Johnny Mercer, a former Army officer and frontline soldier, was yesterday appointed veterans minister working across the Cabinet Office and Ministry of Defence. The idea is that…
Hilary Meredith Solicitors is proud to have worked with MPs on a new campaign to end a host of ongoing injustices against military veterans. Under the three-part Veterans’ Pledge, which is being supported by The Sun Newspaper, we are urging Boris Johnson or Jeremy Hunt when they enter No10 to agree to: 1. Create a…
I am proud to be supporting Broughton House as a Trustee of the charity. Broughton House was originally founded under the name East Lancashire Home for Sailors and Soldiers in 1916 to care for soldiers and sailors who had been injured during the First World War. As a much-loved institution of Greater Manchester and the…
MPs will today debate whether or not veterans who served in Northern Ireland should be given immunity. The Commons debate follows the success of a petition urging the Government to excuse Northern Ireland veterans from historical criminal investigations. It was signed by more than 146,000 people. Why would you serve in the British Military to…
Following the Government’s allocation of £10 million to support mental health for veterans through the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, Defence Secretary Penny Mourdant has announced that up to £9 million of this funding will be allocated to mental health and wellbeing activities. She also announced that additional measures will be taken to attract and…
Conservative MP Johnny Mercer says he has withdrawn his support for Theresa May and her government over the historical prosecution of servicemen and women. In a letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Mercer said it was “regrettable” that he could not continue to support the government. He called on Mrs May to end the “abhorrent…
Northern Ireland’s Public Prosecution Service (PPS) has announced that a former soldier is to be prosecuted for the murder of a teenage boy who was shot dead in 1972. The veteran, identified as ‘Soldier B’, will face the charge of murdering 15-year-old Daniel Hegarty. He was shot and killed by a member of an Army…
A huge funding disparity over legal representation at Inquests has been uncovered by a campaign charity. Figures released by the charity Inquest reveal that, in 2017, the Ministry of Justice spent £4.2m on legal representation for the prison and probation service. Families on the other hand received £92,000 through the Legal Aid Agency’s exceptional funding…
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…