Bloody Sunday paras ‘fearful’
Army veterans believe they are at risk of reprisals for Troubles shootings if their names are made public
SOLDIERS implicated in Bloody Sunday fear losing their anonymity if they are charged with murder over the deaths of protesters 47 years ago.
The former paratroopers’ real identities have been protected by a High Court order put in place over concerns that they were at risk of reprise attacks.
But on Thursday prosecutors will announce whether the soldiers, now in their 60s and 70s, will be charged with murder and other offences over the shooting of demonstrators in Londonderry in January 1972.
Sergeant O, who is under investigation for attempted murder, said: “It is really worrying. I am concerned my name will be released. I think we will be charged.”
He said friends and neighbours were now providing “cover” in the run-up to Thursday’s decision.
The High Court ruling giving the veterans anonymity was made in 1999, prior to soldiers giving evidence to a public inquiry into Bloody Sunday.
The inquiry concluded in 2010 that paratroopers had “lost control”, causing the deaths.
FORMER paratroopers fear their identities will be made public for the first time if they are charged with murder and other crimes over Bloody Sunday almost 50 years ago.
Veterans, now in their 60s and 70s, will learn on Thursday if they are to be prosecuted over the deaths of unarmed civil rights demonstrators in Londonderry on Jan 30 1972. Thirteen people were shot and killed on the day while a 14th died a few months later, with 14 others wounded.
The Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland is hosting a briefing event in Londonderry on the day it will announce whether charges are being brought. Victims’ families will be informed at 10.30am, half an hour before a public announcement is anticipated.
It is expected that former members of 1 Para will be charged with a series of crimes that include murder, attempted murder, wounding and perjury following an investigation that has taken police and prosecutors seven years.
The identities of the veterans under investigation have remained unknown after the former soldiers were granted anonymity by Lord Saville of Newdigate, who chaired a 12-year public inquiry that cost £200 million and concluded in 2012. But the soldiers now fear their names will be made public, should they be charged.
One veteran, known only as Sgt O, who has been accused of attempted murder, said: “It is really worrying. I am concerned my name will be released. I think we will be charged. I don’t know what they are going to charge me with, I really don’t.”
But Sgt O, who is 77, said he was preparing for his name to be made public. He fears recrimination and said friends had begun staying with him while friendly neighbours in his town in England had been keeping watch in the past week amid heightened tensions.
Sgt O said: “The lads are gathering around. I have had somebody down this week. We are getting cover.”
Sgt O was questioned by police three years ago, accused of attempted murder over allegations he fired shots that hit masonry that injured protesters below.
Lawyers for the paratroopers – there are 17 suspects after one died before Christmas – will argue that their anonymity should be preserved. Soldiers were granted anonymity in a High
Court ruling made in 1999.
Lord Saville had wanted to name the men but their barrister at the time, Sir Sydney Kentridge, successfully argued that it was unreasonable to name the soldiers “for fear of reprisals”. He told the High Court the men believed their lives would be at risk.
Philip Barden, a solicitor representing a number of the veterans, has complained of a “media circus” being orchestrated by the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) which he said was adding to their stress. Mr Barden, a partner at Devonshires Solicitors, said: “Our clients are elderly men and have been under investigation now in various forms for 47 years. In ordinary criminal proceedings police conduct the investigation and then they inform the potential defendants as to whether they are going to face any charges.
“They don’t have a media centre where they are releasing information to the media and the families at the same time they are telling the suspects.
“There is obviously media interest but there is no need to conduct this around a media circus. This heightens the veterans’ stress. It is not right.”
A PPS spokesman said: “The arrangements to communicate the decisions in the Bloody Sunday case are in line with our statutory responsibilities.”
In the run-up to Thursday’s announcement, a former military chief complained that prosecuting British soldiers for Bloody Sunday would set a dangerous precedent for the Army’s future operations around the world.
Lord Ramsbotham said there was “profound” concern within the Army about the effect such prosecutions might have. He said: “The position of a commander giving an order to somebody to open fire, if it’s likely to end up in court, the soldier receiving the order
‘There is no need to conduct this around a media circus. This heightens the veterans’ stress. It is not right’
and the person giving the order will think twice about it in the future. And that could have very serious implications if we’re defending this country. It sets a very dangerous precedent.”
Lord Ramsbotham, who was then Lt Col David Ramsbotham, was in London when he took a call on the evening of Sunday Jan 30 1972, telling him people had been killed at the civil rights march.
He said: “I was obviously very sorry that lives had been lost because one never likes lives being lost at all, and the thought that the soldiers might have been involved in killing people on the streets of Londonderry.”