SAS soldiers are threatening to go ‘on strike’ if they are deployed to Ukraine unless they receive assurances they will not face future prosecution for using lethal force.
The rebellion follows a coroner’s court ruling that the Special Forces were not justified in using lethal force against four IRA members in a 1992 ambush, and on the back of an ongoing public inquiry into allied extrajudicial killings in Afghanistan.
Four Provisional IRA members were shot dead by British soldiers minutes after they had carried out a gun attack on Coalisland RUC station in February 1992, and on Thursday at Belfast Royal Courts of Justice, a coroner – who had previously ruled the soldiers did not have an honest belief in the necessity of using lethal force – referred the case to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Last night, senior defence sources said the SAS was facing the worst crisis in its history and called for the troops to be given the same legal protection against prosecution afforded to MI6 agents.
A defence source said: ‘We need a change in the law to give our Special Forces the full protection of the Crown – otherwise within a decade we will not have the SAS. Why should they go on to the frontline against Putin if this is hanging over them?
‘Morale is through the floor, blokes are leaving and the regiment is suffering. They are being forced to increase recruiting from the wider Army.
Senior defence sources have said the SAS is facing its worse crisis in its history, as soldiers threaten to go on strike if they are deployed to Ukraine unless they receive assurances they will be immune from prosecution for using lethal force (file photo)
Peter Clancy, Kevin Barry O’Donnell and Sean O ‘Farrell(pictured left to right) were shot dead by SAS soldiers
Politicians would do well to remember that it is thanks to us and them that people sleep soundly in their beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.’
Another added soldiers feared ‘being chased by cash-hungry lawyers’.
Last night, shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said: ‘These reports of discontent among our serving military, fearing being hounded on their return home from action more than any enemy they may face, should be a wake-up call to Labour.’
The Ministry of Defence said it was ‘pure speculation’ to say who would form part of any UK peacekeeping in Ukraine, adding: ‘We are still at the early stages of the process.’