Prosecutors drop Troubles murder cases against ex-British soldiers dailymail.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dailymail.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Boris Johnson has issued an official government apology after a ruling that 10 people shot dead by the Army in Belfast in 1971 were “entirely innocent”.
Joe McCann, 24, was shot dead as he ran from police and Army in Belfast in 1972
Two former paratroopers had been in court charged with the historical killing
But judge said statements made by the men could not be used against them
He said it was remarkable that two ex-soldiers weren t interviewed by the PSNI
Following acquittal lawyers have called for inquiry into decision to prosecute
Sacked minister Johnny Mercer to lead respect our veterans march through London on May 8 after daughter of soldier shot dead in The Troubles tells of joy as trial of troops accused of murdering IRA leader COLLAPSES
Johnny Mercer expressed frustration at a lack of progress on legislation to protect British veterans who served during the Troubles from prosecution
Soldier A and Soldier C accused of murdering Official IRA leader Joe McCann
A judge in the landmark trial of ruled crucial evidence inadmissible yesterday
Mercer last night announced he would be helping to organise a march on May 8
Submitting.
The court heard that the only evidence implicating the defendants, soldiers A and C, came from two sources.
The first was statements they made to the Royal Military Police in 1972, the second source was statements and answers which they volunteered to the Historical Enquiries Team (HET) of the PSNI in March 2010.
The defence team argued that all of the evidence was inadmissible and should be excluded under Article 74 and 76 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Northern Ireland Order 1989.
Article 74 states that a confession that may have been obtained by oppression of the person who made it should be inadmissible.