Soldiers will carry the coffin of a veteran who died while on trial in Belfast over a fatal shooting during the Troubles.
The family of Dennis Hutchings requested a bearer party and trumpeter at his funeral on Remembrance Day. It is understood that the soldiers will come from his former regiment, The Life Guards, which is part of the Household Cavalry.
Hutchings, who died of Covid-19 aged 80, was cleared twice over the shooting, but arrested again in 2015.
An army spokesman said that Hutchings “served for many years with great dignity, diligence and courage”.
The spokesman added: “His passing is a personal tragedy for his family, regimental family and his friends and we extend our sincere condolences to all that knew and cared for him.”
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He said that the army was approached to provide a bearer party for the funeral on Friday and “as a mark of respect to Mr Hutchings, his service and his family, the decision was made today by the Army to support the request”.
It is unusual for veterans to have a bearer party at their funeral, apart from in exceptional circumstances.Captain Tom Moore had a military bearer party at his funeral, as did the Duke of Edinburgh and Margaret Thatcher.
Johnny Mercer, the former veterans minister and a friend of Hutchings, said: “I’m pleased for the family that the MoD will honour Dennis Hutchings in death as they failed to in life. He was a good man who served his country proudly in Northern Ireland.”
The decision follows a campaign by supporters of Hutchings. Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, responded to claims that a request to have bearers had been blocked last week, saying: “If he wants pallbearers at his funeral and the commanding officer is willing to release them, he served his country, he’s not been convicted of anything.”
Hutchings died while on trial for the attempted murder of John Pat Cunningham, who had learning difficulties, in County Tyrone on June 15, 1974. The great-grandfather from Cornwall served in the British army for 26 years. He lost a case to be able to wear his military uniform during this trial.
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Philip Barden, Hutchings’s lawyer, said: “Dennis was described in court by a prosecution witness as the epitome of the best soldier in the British Army and so it is fitting that the army is doing this for him, his family and the veterans.”