Families ‘left in limbo’
An Army veteran is set to face charges for murder and attempted murder in Belfast during the Troubles over 50 years ago. The Public Prosecution Service in Northern Ireland has announced that a veteran known as Soldier F will be prosecuted for the murder of Patrick McVeigh and the attempted murder of four others in a 1972 incident. Three additional former soldiers will also face charges of attempted murder. The Legacy Act is not expected to have an impact on the cases, as it will offer amnesties in Troubles cases from later this year. The decision to prosecute comes after evidence was submitted by the police and an investigation was conducted.
Background
These charges are believed to be in relation to an undercover Army unit known as the Military Reaction Force (MRF), which operated in Belfast during the early 1970s. The unit comprised approximately 40 soldiers who patrolled west Belfast in unmarked cars. It operated for approximately 18 months before being disbanded in 1973. Former members of the unit alleged in 2013 that it was responsible for the killing of unarmed civilians, leading to an investigation by the Police Service of Northern Ireland and subsequent submissions of files to the Public Prosecution Service.
Other Prosecutions
Soldier F and three other individuals, referred to as Soldiers B, C, and D, will also face charges for the attempted murder of two individuals in a separate shooting incident in May 1972. It is important to note that the individuals referred to as Soldier F and Soldier C are not involved in any previous or ongoing prosecutions related to the events in Northern Ireland from 1972. However, the PPS stated that there was insufficient evidence to charge two former soldiers in the case of the killing of 18-year-old Daniel Rooney in September 1972 at St James Road, west Belfast.
Reaction to the Prosecutions
Image caption,
The PPS said there was insufficient evidence in Daniel Rooney’s case (left) but charges will proceed over Patrick McVeigh’s killing (right)
The daughter of Patrick McVeigh, Pat McVeigh, expressed her hope for accountability and stated that her father deserved justice. She also emphasized that her father was not involved in any illegal activities. Sinn Féin MP John Finucane welcomed the decision to prosecute and highlighted the importance of the legacy act. DUP MP Gregory Campbell emphasized the need for compelling evidence in order for prosecutions to proceed. Veterans commissioner Danny Kinahan, speaking on behalf of veterans who served in Northern Ireland, expressed concerns about what is perceived as an imbalance in the current legal system and the rewriting of history.
