Bloody Sunday families angry at potential shift of trial to Belfast
THE Bloody Sunday families have hit out angrily at the possibility that the Soldier F case might be relocated to Belfast due to security issues at Londonderry courthouse.
Soldier F faces two murder charges in relation to the deaths of William McKinney and Jim Wray and five counts of attempted murder during a civil rights march in Derry’s Bogside on January 30, 1972, a day that became known as Bloody Sunday.
A month-long hearing to decide whether to send the accused to trial is now due to be held.
During the third listing of the case at Bishop Street courthouse yesterday, District Judge McElholm said that despite attempts to secure a venue for hearings nearer to the city, Belfast was looking like the most suitable venue for the hearings. He said Derry’s aged courthouse was limited in terms of size and acoustics and that security issues had to be taken into account.
“We have spent a lot of time looking at this and trying to get a venue providing sufficient accommodation that those who wish to attend the hearing can do so in reasonable comfort, also there are security considerations and people being able to hear what is going on,” he said.
However, some of the families have reacted with anger over the potential move.
John Kelly, whose brother Michael was shot dead on Bloody Sunday, said he was “annoyed” at the prospect of court proceedings happening outside the city.
“Naturally under the circumstances we believe it should be heard here in Derry because Bloody Sunday happened here in the city,” he said. “And we think the court case should remain here.
“We have come this far and we want to be there in court. Bloody Sunday happened 48 years ago and most of the relatives are in their 60s, 70s and 80s. They must accommodate the families. The families come first in this, it’s as simple as that.
“We are all annoyed that we have been put in this position that we may have to travel to Belfast on a weekly basis during the trial. We are very annoyed that we will have to travel again. During the inquiry, the families had to travel to London for 13 months. And that in itself put a lot of pressure on the families. So this situation has to be sorted out, and sorted out soon, in such a way that the families must be accommodated and looked after. The families should be put first in all of this. We have been through enough.”
Mickey McKinney, whose brother Willie was shot dead, said Soldier F “should be brought to this courthouse in the very near future because of his actions”.
“I, and I am sure the rest of the families, are not happy about the thought of going to Belfast,” he said.
“What happened on Bloody Sunday happened 200 yards from where we now stand and Soldier F should be appearing at this courthouse.”
Lawyers for the families have two weeks to make submissions to the court challenging the decision to take the hearing to Belfast. Parties will reconvene on February 7 to formally set the date and venue for the hearing.