30/10/2017 Inside Out South West

Hello and welcome to

Inside Out South-west.

Stories and investigations

from where you live.

What do we want for Dennis?

ALL:

Justice!

Tonight, veterans on trial.

A former soldier is

accused of a Northern

Ireland killing 43 years ago.

There was a knock on

the door, police from

Northern Ireland said

they'd come to arrest me.

I just thought, "What the hell

is going on here?"

Also tonight: Reluctant heroes.

The Cornish explorers

who are good in a crisis.

All of a sudden, we become these

guardians of Cornwall, doing

the things that other

people don't want to do.

And Nick Baker visits the land

of throwback farming.

Not just good for wildlife.

Everybody was happy.

No morning, no groaning.

Going out for a pint

in the evenings,

back to work on time

in

the morning.

I'm Jemma Woodman and this

is Inside Out South-west.

Quick march!

Old soldiers back

on parade in London.

It's a new battle.

This time they're

taking on their own

Government.

Can you imagine in America,

soldiers have fought

against Al-Qaeda,

Isis, being sold out!

They want to stop police

investigations which are leading

to veterans of the Northern Ireland

conflict being taken to court over

deaths during the Troubles.

What do we want for Dennis?

Justice!

Among the marchers is an Army

veteran from Cornwall.

For Dennis Hutchings,

this is personal.

After a long police inquiry,

he s facing criminal charges

in relation to the death of a young

man 43 years ago.

I just want to say a big

thank you from the bottom

of my heart for your support,

not just today but what s happened

over the last bloody two years.

CHEERING.

His supporters are out in force.

Others have come to represent

the man who died in the incident:

John Pat Cunningham.

We didn't plant bombs and blow

innocent people to pieces,

we didn't go to Birmingham and plant

bombs in pubs ? thousands,

and you stand there trying

to represent one man ? shame on you!

It's a summer's evening in Cornwall.

Dennis Hutchings is trying to put

the case to the back of his mind.

Of course I want it sorted out,

it should have been sorted out

long ago but it wasn't.

I've just got to live with it,

my family's got to live with it.

Although his Army service

in Northern Ireland is long

behind him, the prosecution he's

facing came about as a result

of the peace process there.

Among the many issues to be resolved

were around 3,000 unsolved violent

deaths from the Troubles.

Many of them date back to the early

1970s ? when shootings and bombings

were happening with sickening

frequency across Northern Ireland.

In 2005 the Police Service

of Northern Ireland set up a special

team of detectives to investigate

historic cases involving

Republicans, Loyalists

and the Security Services.

One of the files they

reopened was on the death

of John Pat Cunningham,

a 27-year-old with

learning difficulties.

Just before midday on 15th June

1974, Mr Cunningham was on this road

near Benburb in County Tyrone

when he encountered a British Army

patrol led by Dennis Hutchings.

The details of what happened next

are disputed, but Mr Cunningham went

into a field, shots were fired

and he was killed.

There was a police investigation,

but no action was taken

against any of the soldiers.

In 2013, the police looked

at Mr Cunningham's death again

as part of their investigation

into historical cases.

Then, two years later detectives

flew from Belfast to Cornwall.

There was a knock at the door

at a time when I had all the

family here.

Police from Northern Ireland said

they had come to arrest me.

That was at eight

o'clock in the morning.

I just thought, "What the hell

is going on here?"

I just went with it obviously,

got to Northern Ireland that night

and I was taken to Antrim

and was held for four days

and they used I think it was 26

tapes - 45 minute tapes

on questioning me.

And at the end of the

questioning they charged me.

He became the first British soldier

for almost 20 years to be charged

over a Troubles-related killing.

And it's not the only case.

Separately, two members

of the Parachute Regiment have been

charged with murder over

a shooting in Belfast.

And prosecutors are

considering action against 18

soldiers in involved

in the Bloody Sunday shootings.

The police say members

of the Armed Forces and former

paramilitaries are treated

in the same way by detectives

investigating historical cases.

But veterans groups point out that

some paramilitary prisoners

were released from prison early

under the Good Friday Agreement,

and other Republicans have been sent

letters assuring them they aren't

wanted by the police.

You cannot let 300 terrorists free

from jail, send out over 150

on the run letters where you're

allowing the terrorists who weren't

apprehended to get these letters

of comfort or letters of immunity

and then feel it is right

to come after veterans.

That's warped.

We expect MPs with principles

to stand by our veterans and put

into place a statute of limitations

which allows this nonsense to stop.

But human rights activists who work

with the families of some of those

killed in the Troubles say placing

a time limit on prosecutions

would be illegal.

For the vast majority of families

throughout the north who have

had loved ones killed

by the British Army the legal view

on that is those killings

were justified and therefore

the only way that can be overturned

is in a court of law.

That's why the families are saying

there have to be prosecutions.

But what they're not saying

is that they want some kind

of punishment afterwards.

The verdict in a court of law

would be more important

than any punishment.

It's June and Dennis Hutchings

is leaving Cornwall to return

to Northern Ireland

for another court hearing.

As it gets closer to going to court

you always feel a bit

more apprehensive.

I won't find out

what this is all about

until tomorrow.

The journey to Belfast brings back

memories of his time in the Army.

It was a war zone.

You went out on patrol,

you could not say 100%,

"I'm coming back from this."

He's 76 now, and health problems

make the journey and the court

appearance difficult.

I've got chronic kidney disease

and it's just a matter of time

before I go on dialysis.

I've got problems with my heart.

I'm angry, and of course

I'm frightened - what's

going to happen?

It's making me depressed.

I'm not the guy I was,

let's put it like that.

In Belfast, his legal team

are going to argue there isn't

enough evidence for the case

to go ahead.

While his supporters wait outside,

in the court the lawyers

and the judge are pouring over

photographs and witness

statements from 43 years ago.

The prosecution says it's impossible

to know which soldier's shots killed

John Pat Cunningham.

But they allege Dennis Hutchings

was one of two soldiers who fired

during the incident,

and they argue for two charges -

attempted murder and attempting

to cause grievous bodily harm.

Everyone has to wait

for the judge's ruling.

I'm still waiting for a decision.

What do you think of that?

Hopefully we'll get

a resolution soon.

I can't comment on it,

lads, you know that.

Back in Cornwall a few days

later, and there's a call

from one of his legal team.

PHONE RINGS.

This is it.

Hello, Stephen, bit apprehensive.

We're going to trial

on both charges.

Oh, my

BLEEP

God.

Bye-bye.

Oh, Christ.

As the case gets closer,

Mr Cunningham's relatives

and supporters gather at the scene

of the shooting near Benburb.

Charlie Agnew is John Pat's nephew.

For over 40 years there's never

been an explanation,

never been nothing.

We would like to see some

clarification of what happened,

we would like someone

to tell us what happened.

The impact on the family

has been massive.

John Pat had a mental illness,

he was a vulnerable adult.

It's weighed very heavily on my

mother, who is now 83 years of age.

What happened to John Pat Cunningham

will be settled in a criminal trial.

There are many other unresolved

deaths, and a desire for answers.

LAST POST PLAYS.

But the veterans see

prosecutions as a betrayal.

I think it's an absolute shambles.

It just shows how spineless

our politicians are.

Absolutely spineless.

They send you out to do the job,

they give you the paperwork to tell

you how to do it and then totally

ignore you once it's finished.

You're fodder as far

as they're concerned.

Dennis Hutchings is expecting to go

back to Belfast to stand

trial in the New Year.

With no political agreement over how

to deal with the Northern Ireland's

past, police investigations

continue, part of a peace process

which ? for some ? has

brought no peace of mind.

They explore the parts of Cornwall

that most of us try to avoid.

Steep cliffs, deep

holes, nothing puts off

the Carbis Bay crew, whoever

or whatever might need their help.

North Cornwall ? a rescue

operation's under way.

Stranded at the bottom -

not a human ? but a load of rubbish.

We pretty much do

the same skills that

we do for rope rescue but just

bringing rubbish up instead.

This is the Carbis

Bay Crew in action.

It's a balancing act ?

we don't want to be too

much like superheroes.

They're a group of climbers,

divers and cavers.

When the sun comes up,

we go underground.

They're not a 999 service,

but if they can help, they will.

All of a sudden, we've become these

guardians of Cornwall,

doing the things that other

people don't want to do.

On a blustery Autumn day,

Delia Webb's on one of her regular

litter picks around Pendeen,

when she sees something awful.

We noticed a huge amount

of very large, industrial

sized freezers and chairs and bags

of rubbish down a really steep 100

feet cliff.

When fly-tips are on private land,

the council doesn't have to

pick it up, but the Carbis Bay

crew are happy to help.

They arrived with cars, trucks,

abseiling equipment,

winches, humans, cake, lots of cake.

I had a rudimentary plan in my head

about what we were facing.

Rope rescue expert

Pat Moret takes charge.

3-point anchor.

Let's do it.

Yeah.

Track lines coming up.

Yes.

It was basically

create safe anchors,

create a system that was going to be

able to move the material up.

It doesn't take long

before lifting starts.

I don't think we'd have got anybody

else to do it as quickly,

with no fuss, no hassle,

no complications on the day.

They were brilliant.

Today, the group has around 30

members, and between

them not many Cornish cliffs,

caves and mines lie unexplored.

We've been in mines where you've

still got hobnailed boot imprint

and the wheelbarrow marks going down

from the really old mines,

so they are

well over 100 years old.

People just haven't been down them.

There are dangers,

but the crew says it puts

safety first.

I've got industrial rope

qualifications, I've trained

with the fire brigade,

I've trained heart paramedics.

That was fantastic.

It's September on the

coast near Saint Just.

But a walker's day has taken

a turn for the worst.

I remember screaming,

falling for maybe two or

three seconds.

And then I remember stopping

and feeling a searing pain.

Andrew Williams is trapped 50

feet down a mine shaft.

It was very dark.

It's damp.

Eerie.

It was horrific.

I really didn't think...

that I would come out of there.

The emergency services

are quickly on the scene.

But getting Andrew out is going

to need the expertise of Cornwall

search and rescue.

When he arrived, there

was already a paramedic and

members of the Fire Service down

with him giving him first aid,

keeping him warm.

As well as being in the Carbis Bay

crew, Talan as part of Cornwall

search and rescue is one

of their mine rescuers.

We are going to have

to attach it from there.

Talan was the one that really,

when he came in, you

could see a whole different

sense of command.

This was his field of expertise.

He was pulled up

by the fire service.

It was their manpower,

their skills that did that.

My job was to try and monitor

the casualty, to make sure

he didn't actually get

stuck going up,

because it was so narrow.

Talan was their next me, guiding me,

he had to push me this

way and that way.

Sometimes he was above me,

sometimes he was below me.

Eventually, after six hours

underground, Andrew is out.

I shed many tears

when I was down there -

just from the pain, but I certainly

shed a tear of emotion when I saw

the sky and I remember clearly

seeing it, the light as I was going

up, coming out of there.

He escapes with a broken pelvis.

A week later, Andrew

is reunited with some of

his rescuers.

I would just like to say thanks

a bunch to Talan and Jim

and all the other 50

odd guys who were there

who got me out of that cave.

When I saw him, that was emotional.

He went to shake my hand, and I just

pulled him towards me and gave

him a hug.

On Cornwall's south coast ?

Huckleberry, a six month old border

collie hasn't been seen

for three days.

We couldn't find him

and had absolutely no luck

and we were really, really worried.

All we could imagine was our little

six month old puppy was out

somewhere lsot or dead.

Or he was hurt.

Drone operator Mark Thomas is asked

to come and have a look

by a local dog charity.

As the weather closes in,

there's a breakthrough.

And then all of a sudden,

we heard him bark.

We couldn't find him,

but the bark was bouncing

all the way off the cliffs.

We couldn't isolate him in that

evening.

The next morning, the coastguard

arrives to search where

the bark was heard.

They found him exactly where Mark

had launched the drone.

And when he came up

it was heartstopping.

He was back and he was OK.

However it happened,

we were just very fortunate that

Mark came out with his drone

and the dog barked,

and we were convinced he was there.

And then all the help he had from

everyone else.

I always had a sense

of pride. The sense of pride in what

we do, not everything we do is to

help Cornwall. It really does give

you a good boost.

And Huckleberry for

one agrees with that.

HUCKLEBERRY BARKS.

This next story is about

an old-fashioned farmer who sat back

and did...not so much.

And as a result, all

around him grew the most

wonderful landscape, so beautiful

in fact that it attracted

the attention of a prince,

a billionaire and plenty of birds,

bees and butterflies.

Nick Baker has been

to Kingcombe Meadows in Dorset.

Kingcombe Meadows in Dorset ?

600 acres of vanishingly rare

habitat, hay meadow,

a throwback to a time before

pesticides and chemical fertiliser,

farming as your great-grandad might

remember it -

and great for wildlife.

They reckon this is the largest

single block of traditional lowland

meadow in the south of England.

A bit of the county that

with its patchwork quilt of small

enclosed pasture and large flower

rich hay meadows is unrivalled.

And this is the jewel

in the crown ? Lady Mead -

Dorset's coronation meadow ? given

this status as the top meadow

in the county as part of the Queen's

jubilee celebrations.

In June, it's buzzing with insect

life, wild flowers like ox eye

daisies and knapweed,

draw in bugs in their millions.

Finally settled on an ox

eye - a meadow brown.

Its long proboscis is curled as it

feasts on the pollen.

Nearby a beetle chafer clings

on for dear life to this edge.

Whoops!

Slowly struggles to the top before

unfurling its wings.

And then flies off.

Go on!

There he goes.

Mid-June marks the high point

of life in the meadows here,

but 30 years ago this place came

perilously close to destruction.

What will you start me for it,

ladies and gentlemen?

Do I hear 150,000?

The farm was put on the market

in 1986 and divided into lots.

It had been owned by farmer

Arthur Wallbridge for decades.

By all accounts a lazy man.

His inactivity and lack

of innovation was a boon

for the wildlife here.

The farm had largely escaped

so-called "improvement"

by chemicals, artificial

fertilisers and over grazing.

Locals who worked there remember it

as a haven for people as well.

Oh, lovely.

Everybody was happy.

Worked for about 12

shillings a week.

They enjoyed it.

Six in the morning until six

at night, six days a week.

No moaning, no groaning.

Go and have their pint

in the evenings,

enjoy themselves, back to work

on time in the morning.

The wildlife trust launched

an appeal and bought most

of the estate in packages.

Oil billionaire JP Getty

chipped in £90,000.

I doubt if he ever

got a better deal.

Earlier this year,

the Prince Of Wales,

the man who drove the whole

Coronation meadow idea, came

here to mark its 30th anniversary.

Now this really is a meadow

fit for a prince.

Check out the botanical

royalty in these

rather splendid spotted orchids.

There's loads of them here.

Amongst the orchids these

umbeliffers are nectar sources

for bugs like this emerald beetle -

a real beauty.

And a solitary bee with those

distinctive black and white stripes

a bit like a Liquorice Allsort.

Tip for gardeners ? plant

umbellifers and the insects

will surely come.

This solitary wasp is cleaning

its head, after covering itself

after covering itself in pollen -

getting every last

ounce of nutrition.

And there's a spin off

for the birds as well -

higher up the food chain.

This blackbird has a mouth

full of insects taken

from the hay meadows.

And then a bonus,

a meadow brown gets close.

A good potential catch

for the bird ?this one spots

the trap and scarpers.

But this place isn't frozen in time,

it's constantly changing

Well, this is Lady mead at the end

of June and you might ask

what have the Trust done.

Well, OK, they've

taken the hay crop.

But it's all good news,

the seeds taken by the Trust

from here will seed other meadows.

Cutting the thicker grasses

will help the vital wild flowers

that grow here as they compete

with those grasses for nutrients.

And finally cutting the flowers lets

seeds fall to the ground meaning

a good crop in future years.

And with the abundant

flowers what's telling

is the sheer number and variety

of pollen gathering insects.

This six spotted burnet moth

is taking pollen from knapweed.

The bumble bee - a species

in decline for reasons we don't

we don't quite understand -

filling the pollen sacs on its legs.

We desperately need

more places like this.

Down in the valley below the hay

meadows lie Kingcombe's most

disctinctive feature.

It looks like dense

woodland but tucked

in there are small fields

enclosed by dense hedgerows.

In much of England, these old hedges

have been grubbed up, but Arthur

left them alone - just

a few sheep graze here.

There's a vivid contrast

with the more intensively farmed

fields outside the reserve.

In the trees around the meads,

you can pick up birds

like this tree creeper,

scuttling up and down this

and having a peck at the bark

probably in search of insects.

It dives after a passing fly.

Or this chaffinch -

now they nest in the knots

Or this chaffinch - now they nest

in the knots in trees -

so older trees, and 90%

here are veterans, are vital.

And a place for sparrows -

incredibly these once common birds

have declined by 70% in 30 years.

But they haven't turned

their back on farming here.

These beef cattle, some 180

of them, lightly graze

the meadows keeping the thicker

grass under control and poaching

the ground again helping

plant seeds germinate.

And their reward, abundant insects -

including these pesky flies.

Because the land isn't progress of

the drained, there is still water.

And where there is water, there is

life.

This is listed as a traditional hay

meadow but it's getting wetter

and the presence of plants

like these rushes show it's slowly

becoming more marshy.

OK, nothing wrong with that ?

we need more marsh -

but we also need hay meadows.

So that's a bit of conundrum -

to drain or to drain.

Hay meadow or wet marshy

grassland - a tricky choice.

Because the land is not aggressively

drained even in a very dry June,

there are still wet places and where

there's water there's life.

Running throughout

the reserve the river Hooke -

a different habitat.

At this time of year thousands

of mayfly hover over the river

and over its banks these aptly

named beautiful demoiselles.

That green band and blue wing colour

marks this out as a male.

in the breeze -like a batsman

keeping his head still.

The males wait on the leaves

at for females to breed with.

But sometimes prey is too tempting.

This one has caught a mayfly

and is slowly chomping through it.

And after finishing has a brush up.

When slowed down you can make out

the double set of wings that power

damsel and dragon flies

and gives them their

extraordinary manoeuvrability.

What a place this is, and I guess

we have to thank the vision of those

people 30 years ago who saw how

valuable this old tumbledown

farm was and the many

who chipped in money to buy.

It would have been easy to let these

few hundred acres slip into more

intensive farming.

I hope I've given you some idea

of what we would have lost.

Because there are very few

places like this left.

Much of the lowland

English Countryside is given over

to pretty intensive farming.

OK, we need food,

but we also need wild

flowers, insects and birds.

We've been getting those

needs out of kilter.

This place

is all about restoring that

fragile balance -

long may it prosper.

And that's all for this week. Next

time, learning to read at 88. Join

us for storytelling with Russia

laugh. We will see you for that and

more next Monday at 7:30pm. Goodbye

for now.