Daily Express

Bloody Sunday prosecutio­n set to resume

- By John Twomey

THE discontinu­ed prosecutio­n of a military veteran known as Soldier F for two murders on Bloody Sunday in Londonderr­y in 1972 is to resume next week.

The former paratroope­r faces two counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder.

Northern Ireland’s Public Prosecutio­n Service (PPS) halted the prosecutio­n last year citing concerns the case could collapse if it went to trial.

But this year, the Divisional Court of the High Court in Belfast overruled that move after it was challenged by the family of one of the alleged victims.

And earlier this month, the court rejected the PPS’s bid to have its appeal referred to the UK Supreme Court.

The PPS has now reviewed its position and has decided to resume the case.

The service had originally announced it was halting the prosecutio­n of Soldier F for the murders of James Wray and William McKinney. It came after concerns it could fall apart after a separate court ruling on the admissibil­ity of evidence which collapsed another Troubles murder trial involving two military veterans.

On Bloody Sunday the Parachute Regiment shot dead 13 civil rights protesters in Londonderr­y.

Deputy Director of Public Prosecutio­ns Michael Agnew said: “This case has presented difficult and complex legal issues for prosecutor­s, as was acknowledg­ed by the Divisional Court.

“The PPS is committed to progressin­g court proceeding­s against Soldier F without any further delay.”

The prosecutio­n is now listed for a review hearing at Londonderr­y Magistrate­s’ Court on Tuesday.

Mickey McKinney, brother of William McKinney, said: “We are delighted the prosecutio­n of Soldier F will resume next week.”

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