A MILITARY veteran who fought the IRA has led calls for the first mayor of Greater Manchester to increase support for the Armed Forces community.

Tony Stubbs, aged 41, from Breightmet, joined the army at 15 and at 17, in 1990 flew out to Belfast to help combat the IRA.

He was discharged in 1994 and his life spiralled out of control while he suffered with post traumatic stress disorder, turning to drink. He was given three months to live due to liver problems, but got his life back on track with the help of the Military Veterans’ Service and is now fronting the Royal British Legion’s campaign to get the future mayor to provide better support for veterans.

After giving a talk at Manchester Town Hall to the candidates to launch the campaign, Mr Stubbs saidSlaidburn Avenue resident said: “I know better than most the issues affecting our Armed Forces community in this region — when I was discharged, I was drinking to excess and got into trouble with the police.

“Doctors gave me three months to live, but since the Royal British Legion referred me to the Military Veterans’ Service in Bury, I’ve been able to fight back thanks to that support. It can often be a really difficult journey, especially for early service leavers like me.”

Mr Stubbs, who grew up in Wythenshawe, was a private and part of a group called the elite soldiers, responsible for peacekeeping in Belfast. While in Northern Ireland, he was barraged with petrol bombs, bullets and saw two of his fellow soldiers shot in the kneecaps. He said: “It was really scary because I was on the streets of Belfast when I was just 17 years old. I came straight out of training and straight over. I was determined to because a lot of my family members were military.”

After his discharge, Mr Stubbs of Slaidburn Avenue, turned to alcohol to try to forget his experiences. in the conflict. He said: “It affected me really badly because I had PTSD and I was getting into trouble with the police.“I was just getting arrested all the time because I was getting in with the wrong crowd and I was just drinking alcohol constantly.”

Now he is hoping he can do something to help improve the lives of other veterans. He said: “It’s great recognition for me and, because of what I’ve been through, I feel like I am in a position to help other veterans through their mental health problems.”

More information on the campaign is available at britishlegion.org.uk.

Last month the new Bolton Armed Forces Centre was opened in town to give veterans a place to meet and get support.