Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Bloody Sunday troops face short sentences
Any soldiers convicted of killings could be out in 2yrs
ANY soldiers convicted of killings on Bloody Sunday could be let out of jail early, it emerged yesterday.
Secretary of State Karen Bradley said “anyone” convicted of Troubles-related offences and serving their sentence in Northern Ireland would be covered by the terms of a controversial element of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.
It enabled hundreds of convicted terrorists to walk free on licence after serving just two years behind bars.
MP Julian Lewis asked for clarification of the terms of the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998 in a written question to Mrs Bradley earlier this month – specifically asking whether the two-year cap applied to members of the armed forces, police and security services.
Mrs Bradley replied on Monday. She wrote: “Currently anyone convicted of Troubles-related scheduled offences and serving their sentence in Northern Ireland would be eligible to apply to the scheme.”
Today prosecutors are to announce whether 17 ex-soldiers and two former members of the Official IRA will face charges for their involvement in Bloody Sunday – a day that saw 13 civil rights protesters shot dead on the streets..
John Kelly, whose 17-year-old brother Michael was gunned down in January 1972, said he hopes the decades-long journey to justice can finally come to an end with a decision to charge those involved.
He added: “It’s closure to the families, closure in every aspect of it because the thing we don’t want to do is see this being passed on
to the next generation.”