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A former paratrooper facing prosecution for two murders and four attempted murders on Bloody Sunday is expected to appear in court in Derry in August.<\/p>\nA former paratrooper facing prosecution for two murders and four attempted murders on Bloody Sunday is expected to appear in court in Derry in August.<\/p>\n
The Army veteran \u2013 a former lance corporal in the Parachute Regiment known only as Soldier F \u2013 faces charges for the murders of James Wray and William McKinney in Derry in 1972.<\/p>\n
He also faces charges for the attempted murders of Joseph Friel, Michael Quinn, Joe Mahon and Patrick O\u2019Donnell.<\/p>\n
Relatives have been informed by Northern Ireland\u2019s Public Prosecution Service (PPS) that it is anticipated that Soldier F will make his first court appearance on a date in August at Derry Magistrates\u2019 Court.<\/p>\n
A PPS spokeswoman said: \u201cSignificant progress has been made on the process of preparing the large volume of court papers required before a summons can issue to Soldier F.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile this complex process is at an advanced stage, the Public Prosecution Service has had to request some further material from police before the necessary papers can be finalized.<\/p>\n
\u201cBased on the estimated time required for this material to be provided, the prosecution team expects to be in a position to issue a summons to the defendant next month.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is therefore envisaged at this stage that Soldier F will make his first court appearance on a date in August, at Derry Magistrates\u2019 Court.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn line with our commitment to keep the families informed of all developments, the PPS wrote to those involved last week with this latest timetable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ciaran Shiels, from Madden & Finucane solicitors \u2013 which represents Bloody Sunday families, said: \u201cWe have requested a timetable in relation to the prosecutions and we had previously made submissions that Soldier F should face criminal proceedings in Derry as it was in this city where the crimes we say he committed took place.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thirteen civil rights demonstrators were shot dead on January 30 1972, on one of the most notorious days of the Northern Ireland Troubles.<\/p>\n
Bloody Sunday families vowed to continue their campaign for justice after it was announced in March that only one former paratrooper \u2013 Soldier F \u2013 is to be prosecuted over the shootings.<\/p>\n
Relatives of those who died reacted with a mix of vindication, disappointment and defiance.<\/p>\n
As well as the 13 who died on the day, 15 others were shot and injured.<\/p>\n
One of the injured died months later from an inoperable tumor and some consider him the 14th fatality.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors had been considering evidence in relation to potential counts of murder, attempted murder and causing grievous injury with intent.<\/p>\n
Bloody Sunday helped galvanize support for the Provisional IRA early in the Troubles.<\/p>\n
An image of a Catholic priest waving a bloodstained handkerchief as he tried to help a victim to safety went around the world.<\/p>\n
A public inquiry conducted by a senior judge shortly after the deaths was branded a whitewash by victims\u2019 families and a campaign was launched for a new public inquiry.<\/p>\n
Relatives sought to right the wrongs of false claims that their loved ones had been armed.<\/p>\n
A fresh probe was eventually ordered by then prime minister Tony Blair in 1998.<\/p>\n
A decade-long investigation by Lord Saville concluded that the troops killed protesters who posed no threat.<\/p>\n
Following the inquiry\u2019s conclusion in 2010, then prime minister David Cameron said the killings were \u201cunjustified and unjustifiable\u201d.<\/p>\n
A murder investigation by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) followed the \u00a3195m inquiry and files on 18 soldiers were submitted to prosecutors in 2016 and 2017 for consideration.<\/p>\n
One has since died. Four other soldiers included in the Saville Report died before police had completed their investigation.<\/p>\n
Papers before prosecutors included 668 witness statements and numerous photos, video and audio evidence.<\/p>\n