Sgt Danny Nightingale is a British Special Forces sniper who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was sentenced to 18 months in military detention by a court martial, the week before Remembrance Sunday (11 November - Veterans Day here in the US).
Nightingale's sentence was described as the “betrayal of a war hero”, At his court martial, even the prosecution described him as a serviceman of exemplary character, who had served his country for 17 years, 11 in the special forces.
The court was told that he returned to Britain in a hurry after two friends were killed in Iraq, leaving his equipment — including the pistol — to be packed up by colleagues.
The soldier’s former commanding officer and politicians have called for the sentence to be overturned.
Lt Col Richard Williams, Sgt Nightingale’s commanding officer in Iraq, said the sentence “clearly needed to be overturned immediately”.
He said: “His military career has been ruined and his wife and children face being evicted from their home — this is a total betrayal of a man who dedicated his life to the service of his country.”
Patrick Mercer, the Conservative MP for Newark and a former infantry officer, said he planned to take up the case with the Defence Secretary. Simon McKay, Sgt Nightingale’s lawyer, said: “On Remembrance Sunday, when the nation remembers its war heroes, my client — one of their number — is in a prison cell.
"I consider the sentence to be excessive and the basis of the guilty plea unsafe. It is a gross miscarriage of justice and grounds of appeal are already being prepared.”
Details HERE and HERE
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GetSgtDannyNightingaleOutOfPrison
In His Own Words
In a moving letter to his wife, Sgt Danny Nightingale tells of his disbelief at being imprisoned by the country to which he dedicated his life to serving.
In the letter to his wife Sally, Sgt Nightingale writes: “I have often written to you from wherever I have served but never thought I’d be writing to you from prison let alone one in England.
“I was prepared for anything when I went on operations. I knew that there was always the chance that I might say goodbye and not return. It comes with the job and I accepted that.
“But of all of the things I thought might happen, I never expected to be locked away by the country I’ve dedicated my life to serving.”
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This was sent in from a fellow veteran. The UK and the great Commonwealth Nations are our closest allies and our greatest friends in the world, and the SAS has been through thick and thin with us. Now one of their guys who risked it all when our nation asked, is being hung up to dry for a rule that most Americans - especially those of who hold the Second Amendment near & dear - will find sickening.
Danny Nightingale is getting an appeal next week but there are no guarantees. When I see this taken to one of our own - including the Brits - I want to see that justice prevails.
Spread the word far & wide . . .
- STORMBRINGER SENDS
The "Tory" government of PM Major confiscated and banned all handguns in reaction to a school shooting in Dunblane way back. The perpetrator was a certain Thomas Hamilton who was a member of a gun club. Under checks existing at the time, this man should have had his licences removed. Instead they took it upon themselves to punish society by banning all handguns. To the extent that the British Olympic pistol shooting team must practice in France.
ReplyDeleteWhen you read Sherlock Holmes (set in 1890-1900), it is considered absolutely normal for Watson to bring his service revolver along with him on dangerous assignments, ironically his service revolver from operations in Afghanistan.
Gun politics in the UK are utterly moronic. What is worse is that it is the forces of the "right" that instigated this terrible situation. It is now mandatory 5 years for possession - no exceptions. You Americans are SO fortunate to have your rights written in your constitution.
(The irony is that the American right to bear arms derives from a British right to bear arms. This right was not alterable by the crown, but is regulated by parliament now. This travesty goes far beyond this single case.)
Pity there's no one rioting about THIS in Londinistan.
ReplyDeleteAnd the members of that court martial should be cashiered immediately to the last man. What a wagonload of willy wankers.
-Aesop
There's no England anymore
ReplyDeleteDanny's sentence was reduced to 12 months and suspended today.
ReplyDelete