New health fears for SAS hero as he collapses after he was threatened with ... trends now

The mental health of a veteran SAS hero collapsed after he was threatened with jail for refusing to appear at an inquest for an IRA death squad, it emerged last night.

The ex-soldier, who can only be identified as Soldier F, was found in contempt of court after saying he was too ill to be cross-examined about the shooting of the three IRA men in an SAS ambush in 1991.

He was initially ordered to spend six months behind bars but last week – following a public outcry – his jail sentence was quashed. 

Judges instead imposed a £5,000 fine. His lawyer Philip Barden last night told the MoS that the legal battle had taken its toll.