Ex-soldier accused of Belfast murder from 52 years ago

A FORMER British Army soldier is to be charged with an alleged murder in Northern Ireland almost 52 years ago – just months before a law restricting such historical prosecutions comes into effect.

The veteran, known as Soldier F, is accused of the murder of Patrick McVeigh, 44, who was shot dead in Belfast on May 13, 1972. He will also face prosecution for the attempted murder of four others wounded in the same incident.

In addition, Soldier F and three of former colleagues – Soldiers B, C and D – will be prosecuted for attempted murder of two victims during an incident the previous day.

The decision to pursue these cases had to be taken before the Troubles Legacy Bill, which includes a partial immunity for perpetrators of crimes during the conflict, comes into effect.

The act, which also prevents legacy civil cases, was passed by Parliament in September last year and becomes law in May.

All four soldiers belonged to a secretive British Army ‘black ops’ squad called the Military Reaction Force. The unit’s existence only emerged in 2012.

A police inquiry into its activities was ordered the following year.

The MRF consisted of around 30 plain- clothes soldiers who risked their lives nightly in IRA- held strongholds of Belfast. The level of danger they faced meant they were heavily armed and frequently had to defend themselves.

Northern Ireland’s Public Prosecution Service also announced decisions on other cases involving the MRF. It decided there was insufficient evidence against Soldiers A and C to continue proceedings regarding the death of Danny Rooney, 18, in Belfast in 1972.

Some of the ciphers given to these soldiers are the same as those used in other historical prosecutions, such as Soldier F in the Bloody Sunday case. They are not the same individuals. Two other cases against MRF members were also dropped.