Prosecutors in Derry are set to announce this week whether members of the Parachute Regiment will face murder charges over the Bloody Sunday killings in 1972. The decision by the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) comes nearly 50 years after 14 unarmed civil rights demonstrators were shot dead by the 1st Battalion in the Bogside area of Derry.
The Bloody Sunday inquiry, chaired by Lord Saville in 2010, concluded that none of the victims were carrying weapons, no warnings were given, and the soldiers were not under threat. This led to a police investigation and referral to the PPS. Eighteen paratroopers were investigated, with one, known as Soldier F, admitting to shooting four protesters.
Expectations are high in Derry ahead of the announcement at the city's Guildhall on Thursday. Unconfirmed speculation suggests up to four former soldiers, now in their 60s and 70s, could be charged with murder. Relatives of victims have expressed cautious optimism, with John Kelly, whose brother Michael was killed, stating: 'We are entitled to justice. I'm hopeful.'
The threat of prosecution comes amid political controversy over how to handle Troubles-related crimes. Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley faced calls to resign after stating that deaths caused by police and soldiers during the Troubles were 'not crimes', though she later apologised. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence has considered a statute of limitations for service personnel.
