High Court grants Bloody Sunday families permission to challenge Public Prosecution Service (PPS) decision not to prosecute former Paratroopers

The families of Jackie Duddy, Michael Kelly, John Young, Michael McDaid and William McKinney have this afternoon been granted permission by the High Court to challenge decisions by the PPS not to prosecute five former members of Support Company, 1st Battalion the Parachute Regiment, for their murders on Bloody Sunday, 30 January 1972.

The judicial review challenge has been listed for hearing for five days beginning on 20 September 2021.

Fearghal Shiels of Madden & Finucane said:

“The families were notified of the High Court’s decision late this afternoon.

“This application arises out of decisions taken in March 2019 by the PPS not to prosecute these soldiers, and a decision upheld after an internal review of that decision by the PPS in September 2020.

“The families warmly welcome today’s decision and look forward with confidence to the full hearing in the autumn.”