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A Bloody Sunday victim\u2019s brother has urged court authorities to \u201cget real\u201d and ensure the case against a veteran accused of murder is heard in Derry.<\/p>\nA Bloody Sunday victim\u2019s brother has urged court authorities to \u201cget real\u201d and ensure the case against a veteran accused of murder is heard in Derry.<\/p>\n
Liam Wray spoke out after a final decision on the venue for future hearings involving \u201cSoldier F\u201d was adjourned for another month.<\/p>\n
The ex-paratrooper is accused of murdering James Wray and William McKinney on January 30 1972, when troops opened fire on civil rights demonstrators in the Bogside area of Derry, killing 13 people.<\/p>\n
He also stands accused of the attempted murders of Patrick O\u2019Donnell, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon and Michael Quinn. He faces a seventh supporting charge of the attempted murder of a person or persons unknown on the day.<\/p>\n
Mr McKinney\u2019s brother Mickey echoed Mr Wray\u2019s concerns after a decision on venue, which was expected on Monday morning, was put back until next month.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very important, this is where the crime was committed, not half a mile from where we are standing here,\u201d said Mr McKinney outside Derry courthouse.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are the victims here. The people who are standing here this morning are the victims. This is where the case should be heard, not Belfast because of one man (Soldier F).\u201d<\/p>\n
While preliminary court proceedings have been heard in Bishop Street court in Derry, the court authorities are deliberating whether a committal hearing and any potential future trial should be moved to Belfast.<\/p>\n
It comes amid security concerns about staging the proceedings in Derry and practical issues about the size and acoustics of the court facilities in the city.<\/p>\n
Soldier F has yet to appear in person at any preliminary hearings, but would be required to attend his committal.<\/p>\n
Mr Wray noted that previous investigations linked to the case had been heard away from Derry, insisting issues around security and acoustics could be overcome.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe atrocity happened in Derry,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was witnessed by many, many people. The majority of witnesses in this case are going to be Derry people. For them to have to trip up to Belfast, which is not an easy journey, would be ridiculous.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Wray added: \u201cThe issue here is we are talking about open justice.<\/p>\n
\u201cJustice for all and the experience we have had over the 48 years that we have been campaigning in regards to our relatives who were the victims of Bloody Sunday has been that the initial inquiry (Widgery Tribunal) happened in Coleraine, we have seen the way that left people feeling about justice, then we had the soldiers\u2019 evidence in the Bloody Sunday inquiry in London.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about time people got real, it\u2019s about time to say justice should be seen to be done and it should be heard to be done too in this courthouse.\u201d<\/p>\n
District Judge Barnie McElholm had indicated that a decision on the venue would be outlined to the court on Monday.<\/p>\n
However, at the brief hearing Mark Mulholland QC, barrister for Solider F, asked for time to make a submission.<\/p>\n
He said his client wanted to respond to a submission on the location made by Mr Wray on behalf of the bereaved families.<\/p>\n
Mr Mulholland also noted that the management of the case was due to be passed from Judge McElhom to fellow district judge Paul Magill.<\/p>\n
Granting the adjournment for Mr Mulholland to lodge submissions, Judge McElholm said the court authorities had been undertaking work to establish the suitability of several venues.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese things are not simple but there\u2019s a lot of work going on in the background,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The judge adjourned the matter until March 26, when he said Judge Magill would decide on the venue and set a date for the committal hearing.<\/p>\n