Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Ex-squaddies to stand trial on IRA killing
Protest as former paratroopers accused of gunning down man in 1972
TWO ex-paratroopers are to stand trial charged with murdering an Official IRA man four decades ago, a court heard yesterday.
The pair – who can only be identified as Soldier A and Soldier C – appeared at Belfast Crown Court where they were due to enter their pleas on the shooting of Joe Mccann in the city.
Campaign group Justice For Northern Ireland Veterans staged a protest as the brief hearing took place.
The accused, with addresses given as Salisbury House in London, were due to be arraigned but this was adjourned. Mr Justice Colton was told “other proceedings” could affect the case.
He was also informed the defence may launch an application to stay proceedings related to Soldiers A and C.
The accused, who are in their 60s, stayed behind a blue curtain and could only been seen by the judge and clerk.
Although no details of the charge faced by the pair were mentioned, they have been charged with gunning down Mccann on April 15, 1972, in the Markets area.
A Crown prosecutor said a trial date of January 21 next year had been set aside to hear the case, which is set to last two to three weeks.
The judge agreed to adjourn the arraignment, and said he would review the matter on June 1 “when we will hopefully be in a position to proceed”.
He also renewed a reporting restriction which grants the soldiers’ anonymity. While an RUC probe resulted in no one being prosecuted, in 2013 a report by the Historical Enquiries Team concluded his killing was unjustified.
Three years later the PPS brought the murder charges.
A third member of the Army patrol involved in the shooting has since died.