14/03/2019

Bloody Sunday Families Await Prosecution Decision

The families of 13 people killed on Bloody Sunday in 1972 have gathered in L'Derry to await a decision on whether 17 soldiers involved on the day are to be prosecuted.

The Public Prosecution Service is due to release its decision at around 11am today, Thursday 14 March, having considered 125,000 pages of material.

Charges, including murder and attempted murder, have been weighed up after 13 people died and 15 were injured on 30 January 1972 when troops fired over 100 shots as trouble broke out at a civil rights march.

Bloody Sunday has since been remembered as one of the darkest days of Northern Ireland's Troubles.

A public inquiry carried out by Lord Saville found in 2010 that the shootings had been unjustified.

Soldiers who represented the former Parachute Regiment, many of whom are now in their 60's and 70's, will be told if they will face charges soon, at around the same time as the victim's families.



(JG/CM)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

07 September 2022
Sinn Féin 'Will Continue To Stand With The Bloody Sunday Families'
Sinn Féin will continue to stand with the Bloody Sunday families in their campaign for truth and justice, MLA Padráig Delargy has said. The Foyle MLA was speaking after relatives of Bloody Sunday victims seeking the prosecution of three more former British soldiers have been denied permission to take their legal battle to the Supreme Court.
14 March 2019
One Soldier To Be Prosecuted Over Bloody Sunday Murders
One former paratrooper is to be prosecuted for two murders and four attempted murders on Bloody Sunday, the Public Prosecution Service has confirmed. 'Soldier F' is to be charged with the murders of James Wray and William McKinney, as well as the attempted murders of Joseph Friel, Michael Quinn, Joe Mahon and Patrick O'Donnell.
15 February 2013
Bloody Sunday Families Offered £50,000
The families of the victims of Bloody Sunday have been each offered £50,000 compensation, according to the BBC. The same amount has also been offered to people who were injured in the shootings. BBC Northern Ireland has revealed how the offer follows months of discussion between lawyers for the Ministry of Defence and the families' legal teams.
16 June 2010
Prosecutions 'Difficult' Over Bloody Sunday
There are to be high level discussions over any possible Bloody Sunday prosecutions.
15 March 2002
Bloody Sunday families react to Lord Kilclooney's evidence
Claims by Ulster Unionist Lord Kilclooney that those who were killed by British Paratroopers on Bloody Sunday were armed have been greeted by the families and wounded as “hurtful” but “significant”.