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A young British soldier stationed in war-torn Northern Ireland kills an Irish rebel in self-defense and finds himself thrown into a hellish ordeal when the very authorities who sanctioned his actions suddenly change and decide to use him as a scapegoat to keep others from making the same mistake in this powerful, provocative British film. Welshman Wil Thomas joins the British army in hopes of escaping the poverty of his hometown and proves to be an honest and dutiful soldier. After the killing he is immediately taken back to England, tried, and, despite his vigorous protestations of innocence, thrown into the brig. There he is brutalized, harassed and denied medical attention. As he continues to fight to prove his innocence and endure the many indignities, the situation leading to his incarceration is presented via flashback. Also chronicled is his brief affair with an Irish Catholic woman who breaks up with him when she realizes that he belongs to the army. He later learns that she paid a horrible price for their relationship. He also reflects upon the orders of his sergeant who gave them permission to use force on the rebels and to defend themselves from attacks. Back in the present, cruel corporal Bernard Latham begins taking a special interest in tormenting Thomas. Still Thomas staunchly refuses to crack. Meanwhile his former sergeant launches a campaign to help his former friend.