By Fatma Younis
A former British Army Special Air Service (SAS) officer has denied that the unit conducted shoot-to-kill missions against the IRA during the Northern Ireland Troubles. George Simm, who served in the 1970s and 1980s, broke nearly 50 years of silence to accuse the government of abandoning veterans through its new legislation addressing the conflict's legacy.
Simm's Service and Drumnakilly Ambush
Simm participated in hundreds of operations, including a 1988 ambush at Drumnakilly near Omagh where three IRA members were killed. He described how his unit, tipped off about a planned attack on an off-duty UDR soldier, posed as a broken-down lorry driver. When the IRA car opened fire, the soldiers returned fire, killing all three occupants in seconds. Simm insisted they were under direct fire and acted professionally.
Government's Troubles Bill and Safeguards
The UK government's Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, currently before Parliament, replaces the previous Conservative government's 2023 Legacy Act. It establishes a legacy commission to investigate Troubles-era killings, an information recovery body, and a dedicated legacy unit within the Irish police. Officials say the bill includes "effective safeguards" for veterans and makes clear there was no equivalence between lawful soldier conduct and terrorist actions.
Families' Shoot-to-Kill Allegations
Relatives of the three men killed at Drumnakilly have long called the operation a shoot-to-kill mission, arguing the IRA members could have been arrested. Ignatius Harte, brother of two victims, previously stated the Army had prior knowledge of the men's movements and weapons. Simm rejected this, saying rational thought was impossible under Kalashnikov fire at close range.
Simm's Criticism of Legacy Legislation
Simm said he went public because the narrative around the regiment had been "perverted" by politics and legal processes. He claimed the Ministry of Defence censors veterans while simultaneously ordering them into courtrooms. He expressed frustration that only soldiers appear in witness boxes while senior commanders are never called.
Veterans' Protests and Ongoing Debate
The 72-year-old said he no longer fears personal safety risks, noting that the SAS association and many senior officers have joined the fight against the bill. He also challenged republicans, stating the IRA now fights "by other means" using laptops and social media. Conservative politicians including Sir Iain Duncan Smith and Mark Francois have protested alongside Northern Ireland veterans outside Parliament.
