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Bloody Sunday: Ex-paratroopers win legal bid against transfer to Northern Ireland | Bloody Sunday: Ex-paratroopers win legal bid against transfer to Northern Ireland |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Ex-soldiers who face questioning over Bloody Sunday have won their High Court battle against being transferred to Northern Ireland for police interview. | Ex-soldiers who face questioning over Bloody Sunday have won their High Court battle against being transferred to Northern Ireland for police interview. |
Thirteen people were shot dead in Londonderry on 30 January 1972, and a 14th victim died later, after troops opened fire on a civil rights march. | |
Last month, seven former paratroopers asked the court to stop them being arrested and taken to Northern Ireland. | |
Police said they would factor in the ruling as they continue to investigate. | |
'Would co-operate' | |
The former Parachute Regiment members launched their judicial review action at the High Court in London against the chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). | The former Parachute Regiment members launched their judicial review action at the High Court in London against the chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). |
An earlier hearing was told that former paratroopers had no issue with being interviewed and would co-operate and that the court challenge revolved around where they would be interviewed. | |
A lawyer for the men said the issue at the heart of their application was that the men should not be arrested and interviewed in Northern Ireland. | A lawyer for the men said the issue at the heart of their application was that the men should not be arrested and interviewed in Northern Ireland. |
The former soldiers' legal action was lodged after one of their colleagues was arrested in County Antrim and interviewed at a police station in Belfast, before being released on bail the following day. | |
A sister of one of the Bloody Sunday victims told the BBC that she was "not surprised" that the former soldiers had won their case. | |
Kate Nash lost her brother William in the Derry shootings and has campaigned for those responsible to be prosecuted for murder. | |
"We almost expected this. The Bloody Sunday Inquiry was moved from here to London too. We expect a trial, if it ever happens, to be in London too," Ms Nash said. | |
"It's another move in a line of long moves to delay us getting soldiers to court." | |
'Investigative strategy' | |
In a statement after Thursday's ruling, Det Supt Jason Murphy, from the PSNI's Legacy Investigation Branch, said: "We acknowledge today's judgment on these complex issues and we will study it in detail. | |
"The investigation into the events of Bloody Sunday continues and we will factor the findings into our investigative strategy moving forward." | |
Bloody Sunday was one of the most controversial days in Northern Ireland's history. | Bloody Sunday was one of the most controversial days in Northern Ireland's history. |
The fatal shootings were the subject of a 12-year public inquiry led by Lord Saville. | The fatal shootings were the subject of a 12-year public inquiry led by Lord Saville. |
The Saville Report, published in 2010, unequivocally blamed the army for the civilian deaths and exonerated those who were killed. | The Saville Report, published in 2010, unequivocally blamed the army for the civilian deaths and exonerated those who were killed. |
Prime Minister David Cameron accepted the findings of the report and made a public apology to the victims. | Prime Minister David Cameron accepted the findings of the report and made a public apology to the victims. |