Soldiers A & C's Trial Collapsing

[Yambo]

Soldiers A and C are on trial for murder in Belfast over the death of Joe McCann in 1972. In 2010 they gave evidence to the Historical Enquiries Team (HET) and were possibly told that their evidence would not bu used to prosecute them (I say possibly because that's what has been alleged in the past) but it seems that a substantial part of the prosecution case is based on that evidence.

The defence has asked for that evidence to be excluded and the prosecution have admitted that without it there would probably be no trial

When asked by the judge if "without the interviews, the case would fall", the prosecutor replied: "On that basis, My Lord, yes."

Two or 3 days ago an investigator from the HET told the court that he did not expect the soldiers to be prosecuted based on the interviews.

We have to wait until next Tuesday for the prosecution to say whether they will appeal the judge's ruling (that I guess, must be that the case is over) so whilst it's not over yet, it could well be over. At last.

We can only hope that all the other prosecutions that are lined up will now be in jeopardy and that guys like Dennis Hutchings can end their days in peace.

A good day, at last, in a very sorry saga.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I wonder if they were cautioned before the HET interviews?

I would have thought for it to be admissible as evidence they would have to have been, otherwise it's hearsay.

[Yambo]

I don't know if they were cautioned back in 2010 but it seems unlikely as it wasn't supposed to be a criminal investigation. That's not the only 'discrepancy':

After a prosecution barrister confirmed that neither soldier has ever been spoken to by police, the judge said he found it a "remarkable feature of this case that they were not interviewed by the PSNI and they were not arrested, but are in court on trial for murder".

[moth]

One the other hand, the IRA members that have been interviewed, on and off the record, by various government bodies...

[Cousin Jack]

Let's hope that the trial collapses, and lesson are learned.

Time to draw a line and stop this stupidity, apart from anything else how in f***ks-name can anyone put together a defence for something that happened that long ago.

[Yambo]

Two former paratroopers accused of the murder of an Official IRA leader have been formally acquitted after prosecutors offered no further evidence at their trial.

The veterans’ trial at Belfast Crown Court collapsed after the Public Prosecution Service confirmed it would not appeal against a decision by Mr Justice O’Hara to exclude statements given by the ex-soldiers about the shooting of Joe McCann in 1972.

Good news. I really hope it sets a precedent for the other cases that are still ongoing.

[crust]

Disgraceful that they were even on trial in the first place.

[moth]

Their solicitor Niall Murphy said: "This ruling does not acquit the state of murder."

He added: "Today is not the end of the McCanns' journey for justice."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-56942056

Does the implication mean that we can try some murdering IRA bastards that have stronger evidence against them, including their own off the record confessions?

[Mussels]

Their solicitor Niall Murphy said: "This ruling does not acquit the state of murder."

He added: "Today is not the end of the McCanns' journey for justice."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-56942056

Does the implication mean that we can try some murdering IRA bastards that have stronger evidence against them, including their own off the record confessions?

Maybe the McCanns will sue the IRA for recruiting him into a job where he was likely to get shot.

[slowsider]

Their solicitor Niall Murphy said: "This ruling does not acquit the state of murder."

He added: "Today is not the end of the McCanns' journey for justice."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-56942056

Does the implication mean that we can try some murdering IRA bastards that have stronger evidence against them, including their own off the record confessions?

Try? The implication is that you can shoot them in the street unarmed, and if you wait long enough, be exonerated.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Their solicitor Niall Murphy said: "This ruling does not acquit the state of murder."

He added: "Today is not the end of the McCanns' journey for justice."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-56942056

Does the implication mean that we can try some murdering IRA bastards that have stronger evidence against them, including their own off the record confessions?

Try? The implication is that you can shoot them in the street unarmed, and if you wait long enough, be exonerated.

Are you trolling, the IRA and INLA killed unarmed people, British, Irish, civilians, children and service men, all were killed by the Republican terrorists

[JackyJoll]

Try? The implication is that you can shoot them in the street unarmed, and if you wait long enough, be exonerated.

What if you think they might be armed?

[moth]

Their solicitor Niall Murphy said: "This ruling does not acquit the state of murder."

He added: "Today is not the end of the McCanns' journey for justice."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-56942056

Does the implication mean that we can try some murdering IRA bastards that have stronger evidence against them, including their own off the record confessions?

Try? The implication is that you can shoot them in the street unarmed, and if you wait long enough, be exonerated.

Ah, the old 'the IRA are civilians unless they're tooled up' bollox.

Try telling that to the families of the 21 civilians they murdered in Birmingham.

I have no sympathy for terrorists, or their supporters. If they all got a bullet in the back of the head, starting with Gerry Adams, by person or persons unknown I wouldn't shed any tears. They're all scum, and they all got exonerated.

[Mr Moofo]

Their solicitor Niall Murphy said: "This ruling does not acquit the state of murder."

He added: "Today is not the end of the McCanns' journey for justice."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-56942056

Does the implication mean that we can try some murdering IRA bastards that have stronger evidence against them, including their own off the record confessions?

Try? The implication is that you can shoot them in the street unarmed, and if you wait long enough, be exonerated.

Wasn't that the basis of the Good Friday agreement - a bit like the Truth and Reconciliation process in South Africa. But way more one sided?

[Yambo]

Try? The implication is that you can shoot them in the street unarmed, and if you wait long enough, be exonerated.

Three and a half months after McCann died, 9 innocent* people including an 8 year old girl were killed when 3 car bombs were detonated in Claudy, near L'Derry.

Not one person has been brought to justice for this atrocity and probably never will be. I guess the implication is that you can blow up old men, women and children and if you keep your heads down for long enough and don't claim responsibility, you'll be fine and be called a Freedom Fighter. Of course, if the murders had been properly investigated and people jailed for them they would now be happily walking the streets.

* None of the people that died at Claudy had any links to the Republican movement. There were no British soldiers in Claudy. It is widely believed that a Catholic priest, Father James Chesney was involved in the atrocity, indeed the police ombudsman for Northern Ireland pretty much confirmed Chesney's involvement in his report published in 2010. That was the same year that Soldiers A & C voluntarily gave evidence to the HET after being asked to do so by McCann's family. I wonder why nobody has ever come forward to try and give some closure to the families of the 9 innocent people who died in Claudy but the family of a known, active terrorist implicated in the deaths of 15 British soldiers needed closure (I doubt they'll recognise that they sort of have closure now).

There's rather an awful stench of double standards when it comes to Republicans and a search for justice.

[slowsider]

Their solicitor Niall Murphy said: "This ruling does not acquit the state of murder."

He added: "Today is not the end of the McCanns' journey for justice."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-56942056

Does the implication mean that we can try some murdering IRA bastards that have stronger evidence against them, including their own off the record confessions?

Try? The implication is that you can shoot them in the street unarmed, and if you wait long enough, be exonerated.

Ah, the old 'the IRA are civilians unless they're tooled up' bollox.

Try telling that to the families of the 21 civilians they murdered in Birmingham.

I have no sympathy for terrorists, or their supporters. If they all got a bullet in the back of the head, starting with Gerry Adams, by person or persons unknown I wouldn't shed any tears. They're all scum, and they all got exonerated.

Interesting example. You'd have another six innocent men with a bullet in the head to add to the tally.

[Cousin Jack]

There's rather an awful stench of double standards when it comes to Republicans and a search for justice.

That ^

[moth]

Try? The implication is that you can shoot them in the street unarmed, and if you wait long enough, be exonerated.

Ah, the old 'the IRA are civilians unless they're tooled up' bollox.

Try telling that to the families of the 21 civilians they murdered in Birmingham.

I have no sympathy for terrorists, or their supporters. If they all got a bullet in the back of the head, starting with Gerry Adams, by person or persons unknown I wouldn't shed any tears. They're all scum, and they all got exonerated.

Interesting example. You'd have another six innocent men with a bullet in the head to add to the tally.

And the real perpetrators, known to the police and the security services, are still walking around free. Real patriots wouldn't have let six innocent men do time for their crime.

[slowsider]

I'll just leave this here.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/202 ... allymurphy

No trials to collapse because no one was ever charged.

[Mr Moofo]

I'll just leave this here.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/202 ... allymurphy

No trials to collapse because no one was ever charged.

Does that mean all cased where the IRA murdered people, and nobody was tried, they can be re-opened as well?