Call to protect Londonderry massacre veterans

British army veterans who face being charged with murder over Bloody Sunday deaths should not be made scapegoats for the failings of commanding officers and politicians at the time, senior figures have said.

The Telegraph revealed yesterday how four former paratroopers, now in their 60s and 70s, are expected to be charged with murder in connection with the 1972 Londonderry shootings.

Fourteen civilians were killed and another 14 were wounded when troops from 1 Para fired on a civil rights demonstration in the city.

Prosecutors will meet with victims’ families on March 14 before making the announcement on whether former soldiers will stand trial. But politicians and former military commanders fear the men, who they say had to make split-second decisions on the day, are being made scapegoats.

Colonel Richard Kemp, who commanded troops in Afghanistan, said: ‘‘It’s wrong. The actions of the army were not good, but to single out a group of OAPs after all this time is grossly unfair and doesn’t serve justice.

‘‘These men were inadequately trained nor prepared. They were led by military commanders and politicians who are now dead and are not going to be held accountable.’’

Doug Beatty, a former Royal Irish Regiment captain and now Stormont assembly member, said: ‘‘The thing that really concerns me is they’ve dropped this down to the lowest common denominator and that’s the soldier on the street. What we’re not looking at is who was responsible for them.’’

Police began the criminal investigation in the wake of the 12-year Lord Saville inquiry, which concluded in 2010 that paratroopers had ‘‘lost control’’, causing the deaths.

The Public Prosecution Service said it ‘‘is making arrangements for the communication of its decisions on March 14. We will not be providing any information in relation to prosecutorial matters in the intervening period.’’