From the BBC:
“Troubles prosecutions:
Reaction to decision to drop cases against ex-soldiers”
(Members of the families of some
of those killed on Bloody Sunday spoke to the press about the decision)
Victims' families, politicians
and other prominent figures have been responding to the decision not to
prosecute two Army veterans facing murder charges over incidents in Londonderry
in 1972. The cases involve individuals known as Soldier F and Soldier B. Soldier
F was to be prosecuted over the deaths of James Wray and William McKinney on
Bloody Sunday as well as five attempted murder charges. The case against
Soldier B relates to the death of 15-year-old Daniel Hegarty, who was shot
twice in the head in Londonderry in July 1972, and the wounding of his cousin
Christopher. On Friday the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) said the test of
prosecution was longer passed after it had reviewed evidence that was due to be
used. Families of the victims have pledged to fight the decision.
Michael McKinney, brother of
Bloody Sunday victim William McKinney
"We shall challenge this
decision as far as we can," said Mr McKinney. "This issue is far from
concluded. We will fight on."
James Wray, brother of Bloody
Sunday victim Liam Wray
"Not surprised but
disappointed obviously," said Mr Wray (above, right, pictured with other
members of the Wray family). "Our fear was that the prosecution case
against Soldier F would be dropped. "The decision today does not make Jim
any less murdered than he was in 1972."
John Kelly, brother of Bloody Sunday victim Michael Kelly
"It's a day of devastation .
The fact that justice has been denied to the people of Derry, to the families -
highly disappointed. "But one point is we're never going to give up. We'll
find some way of seeing [Soldier] F in a court of law."
Michelle O'Neill, Sinn Féin
vice-president
The deputy first minister said it
was a "bad day for justice". "The message is clear, British
state forces who gunned down peaceful protestors and a child in Derry acted
with impunity and will be allowed by the state to get away with murder. "We
will continue to stand by the Bloody Sunday and Hegarty families."
Gregory Campbell, DUP MP
The East Londonderry MP said the
victims' families were unlikely to find closure by way of the courts. "It
is going to be almost impossible, in my view and in the view of many, as years
go on and we get further and further and memories become even more distant, to
get to an accurate recreation of what happened, and how it happened, and
thereby then try and bring closure to families who desperately want it,"
he said.
Colum Eastwood, SDLP leader
The Foyle MP said he was
devastated for the Bloody Sunday and Hegarty families. "What this is
saying to the world is the British government can with impunity murder its own
citizens and get away with it," he said. "That's an astonishing thing
to say to people, it is absolutely wrong. I know these families very well and
they will not stop campaigning for justice." He said "proper judicial
process" were now needed.
Doug Beattie, Ulster Unionist
Party leader
The soldier-turned-politician
said the victims' families would join the thousands of Troubles victims who
"never saw justice". "The justice system has not worked and
dealing with legacy has not worked and it's difficult to see how we are going
to get out of where we are now," he said. "There's nobody today
should be raising banners and screaming and shouting and saying this is great
news - the reality is there's still families suffering in regards to
this."
Stephen Farry, Alliance Party
deputy leader
The North Down MP said the
government should reflect on "flawed investigations" into Troubles
cases. The "first thought" should be with victims' families on what
was a "difficult and stressing day" for them, he said.
Simon Coveney, Irish foreign
minister
A spokesperson for Mr Coveney
said the Irish foreign affairs department was keeping in contact with the
McKinney, Wray and Hegarty families on behalf of the Irish government. "This
is deeply upsetting for all the families involved who have spent so many years
in pursuit of justice for their loved ones and our thoughts are with all of
them today," said the spokesperson. "All victims' families must have
access to an effective investigation and to a process of justice in accordance
with the law and regardless of the perpetrator."
Louise Haigh, shadow Northern
Ireland secretary
The Labour MP said: "The
ongoing failure to deliver a process to deal with the legacy of the past
remains an open wound which is failing victims and their families. "This
decision is further proof that we urgently need to see a comprehensive process
which has the trust of victims, searches for the truth and upholds the rule of
law. "Only such a process, agreed with the people and communities of
Northern Ireland, will help Northern Ireland deal with the terrible legacy of
the past."
Johnny Mercer, former minister
for veterans
The Conservative MP said the
decision "highlighted the government's shame" and there were "no
winners in this". "I feel for the families who have gone down this
path for a long time. "And of course I feel for the veterans who have had
their lives ruined by repeated investigations into what went on in Northern
Ireland. "Successive governments have promised to sort out legacy - they
haven't."
Denis Bradley, former NI
Policing Board vice-chairman
The former NI Policing Board
vice-chairman said "victims have to accept that they will not achieve the
justice that they once felt they might". "I think what is clear after
today, and even more clear with every one of these cases, is that the judicial
system cannot deal with our past. "The other thing they have to come to
terms with is that society moves on and loses interest and you're left with
your own pain and grief."
^ Every single person (Northern Irish
Catholic, Northern Irish Protestant, British Soldier, British Government
Official, etc.) that attacked and or murdered innocent men, women or children
or those that helped cover-up the crimes needs to be brought to justice. The
victims need to finally be placed above the attackers and the murderers. That
has not happened in 50+ years. ^
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