Families of victims killed during the conflict have condemned a new attempt by the British government to protect their former soldiers from investigation and prosecution for fatal shootings.

Despite being presented last week as a new framework for dealing with the conflict in the north of Ireland, Relatives for Justice have said that the move represented an unlawful perpetuation of impunity for British state killers.

A deal announced to the media with considerable fanfare two weeks ago promised to end the protection of those who carried out war crimes during the conflict.

The proposals, agreed by London and Dublin, are supposedly aimed at replacing the hugely controversial Legacy Act with a new plan for truth recovery, justice and accountability for conflict-related cases.

But little over a week later, in a manner often used during the peace process the British government reneged on the deal and spelled out that it involves a package of protections for former British soldiers only.

These include “a protection in old age” and “protection from repeated investigations”. There is also an apparent ‘cover-up’ exception that “veterans will not be required to provide unnecessary testimony on historical context that has already been established”.

Former British soldiers will also have a right to seek anonymity and “to stay at home”, suggesting they cannot be compelled to give evidence in person.

British PM Keir Starmer admitted resiling from the deal, confirming the measures will not apply to members of armed groups such as the Provisional IRA.

“We have made a provision for veterans in relation to it, the protections have been put in place,” he said. When asked if the protections extended to everyone who came forward, he admitted: “No, it’s for veterans.”

The dramatic reversal was condemned by Mark Thompson, of Relatives for Justice. He said any attempt by the British government to protect former soldiers responsible for fatal shootings from investigation and prosecution would amount to continued perpetuation of impunity.

“It would be unlawful,” he said.

“Victims of state violence will not be treated as second class, nor will their rights to accountable justice be denied.

“In such a situation RFJ (Relatives for Justice) will support families to legally challenge any attempt to amnesty or indemnify state actors.”

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald had previously made clear there could be no special arrangements that would solely benefit veterans.

“Just to be clear, there can be no side deal for veterans,” she said.

“That would fly in the face of the commitments that governments are making to human rights compliance, to a process that is victim- centred. Those two things are mutually incompatible.”

Ms McDonald added: “Cosy side deals, sweetheart deals, acts that create evasions or cloaks of secrecy or non-disclosure clearly cannot fit in that framework.

“The governments are well aware of that.

“Veterans, everybody across society needs to be aware of that too.”

The brother of a Catholic schoolgirl murdered by the British army has also criticised the plans.

Mark Kelly’s 12-year-old sister, Carol Ann Kelly (pictured), was killed by a plastic bullet fired by a British soldier in Twinbrook, on the outskirts of west Belfast, in May 1981.

The child was shot as she returned home from a nearby shop with a pint of milk.

“Time after time they just keep throwing things at us, ‘we want to do everything for the victims’ and then they don’t” Mr Kelly said, speaking to the Irish News.

“They seem to just want to give amnesties to these soldiers and policemen.”

Mr Kelly, who was with his sister when she was killed, dismissed previous RUC/PSNI police investigations.

“Investigations that were carried out before, they were absolutely botched, and useless, no thought into them at all,” he said.

“I was standing a foot and a half away from my sister when she was shot, I have never been spoken to by the police. Never have they approached me in any way, shape or form.”

Mr Kelly said he is aware of other witnesses that were not spoken to.

“They really just don’t want the investigations to go anywhere, they keep moving the goalposts further and further and further away,” he said.

“And it is all to save soldiers and policemen from being convicted of criminal offences that they definitely carried out in the north of Ireland.”