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<p>It is a very high priority for Defence to ensure that all personnel involved in
Northern Ireland Legacy matters are offered, free, appropriate legal and pastoral
support, taking account of individual circumstances, including health and wellbeing.
For both inquests and criminal investigations, we contact every veteran as soon as
we have been made aware of their potential involvement. This contact will signpost
points of contact within the Ministry itself, (including the MOD's 'Veterans UK');
the Army, including the Army Personnel Services Group and Regimental Associations
or equivalent organisations and relevant charities and third sector bodies. In addition,
MOD officials are in frequent contact with veterans' organisations and other interested
bodies and make every effort to publicise this support through appropriate channels,
to ensure that the wider veterans' community has a channel through which they can
contact the Department if appropriate. We also have appropriate points of contact
so that those of whom we are not initially aware, can initiate contact with the right
people.</p>
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