Bloody Sunday 30 January 1972

This morning the Public Prosecution Service announced that no further former soldiers of 1st Battalion The Parachute Regiment will face criminal charges in respect of the events of Bloody Sunday in Derry on 30 January 1972.

This follows a review of decisions published on 14 March 2019 in which it was announced that one former soldier, currently known as “Soldier F” was to be prosecuted for 2 counts of murder and 5 counts of attempted murder.

Ciaran Shiels, solicitor of Madden & Finucane who represent the majority of the victims of Bloody Sunday said:

“Following the PPS decisions last March our office embarked upon a painstaking analysis of the reasons relied upon by the PPS to prosecute only one soldier, and only for some of the murders he was involved in on Bloody Sunday. Submissions extending to almost 150 pages were lodged with the PPS setting out why we considered their decision making was flawed and unlawful.

“Today’s decision by the PPS to uphold its original decision and to bring no further prosecutions is deeply disappointing for the families and wounded who are left with the firm conclusion that members of the Parachute Regiment have effectively gotten away with mass murder. They are left with no alternative now but to consider challenging these decisions in the High Court by way of judicial review proceedings.”