'NI army veterans not treated fairly' - UUP MLA

Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie, an Iraq War veteran, has said the Northern Ireland Executive is "turning a blind eye" to delivering the Armed Forces Covenant here and is using equality legislation "as a feeble excuse for inaction".

The covenant is a government promise to take care of former members of the armed forces.

The Upper Bann MLA said he wrote to the First and deputy First Minister to ask what systems were in place to make charities or community groups aware of funding available for supporting army veterans.

He also asked whether the Executive would be a appointing a representative to the Armed Forces Covenant Reference Group.

In answer to his letter, he was told "The Armed Forces Covenant has not been adopted here and there has been no joint agreement ot appoint a representative to the Armed Forces Covenant Reference Group".

It also said that no provision had been made specifically to draw attention to the funding, but details were available online.

The Ulster Unionist, who remains in the army reserve, described the response as "staggering in its total failure to address the needs of veterans in Northern Ireland".

He said it was also at odds with assurances made by the Westminster government that delivery of the covenant in Northern Ireland "is progressing at a pace".

"Our Veterans don’t want advantage," he said, "they just want to be treated fairly and not be disadvantaged becauseof their service".