‘Neil Mackay: If Afghan death-squad claims are proven the SAS must be disbanded and those guilty jailed for life for war crimes ‘.

http://seachranaidhe-irishandproud.blogspot.com/2022/07/neil-mackay-if-afghan-death-squad.html

This is not a flag is a blood-soacked Butchers Apron

Full 118 page verdict of the Coroner in the Kathleen Thompson inquest – Madden & Finucane Solicitors Belfast

https://madden-finucane.com/2022/07/11/full-118-page-verdict-of-the-coroner-in-the-kathleen-thompson-inquest/

Daughter of IRA woman murdered with her sister in 1971 to launch legal action against attorney general

Maura Meehan and her sister Dorothy Maguire were murdered by the British Army in 1971

Margaret Kennedy holds photographs of her mother Maura Meehan and aunt Dorothy Maguire who were shot dead in West Belfast in 1971. Picture by Mal McCann

THE daughter of an IRA woman killed along with her sister almost 50 years ago is set to launch legal action against the attorney general after a new inquest was refused.

Mother-of-four Maura Meehan (31) died along with her sister Dorothy Maguire when British soldiers opened fire on a car in which they were passengers in West Belfast in October 1971. Both women were members of Cumann na mBan, the female wing of the IRA. The army claimed a gun had been pointed from the back of the car although this was disputed by the women’s families and eye witnesses. 

Legal action has already been launched against the British army in relation to the death and relatives asked former attorney general John Larkin to order a new inquest. That request was refused earlier this year. Ms Meehan’s daughter Margaret Kennedy, who was nine when her mother was murdered, has now launched legal action against the attorney general, a role now held by Brenda King. 

Maura Meehan, one of two women who died in a shooting incident involving a British Army patrol in the Lower Falls area of Belfast, N Ireland. She was aged 31 years and married with 3 children. The woman who died with her was her sister, Dorothy Maguire, 19 years, single. Both were Roman Catholic and from West Belfast. It later emerged that they were members of Cumann na mBan, the Women’s IRA, and were the first members of that organisation to die in the Troubles. The soldiers claimed that a gun was pointed at them from the car. It later transpired the women were sounding the car horn to warn of the presence of soldiers. 197110230424MM1
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Forensic reports from the time claimed Ms Meehan had lead on both hands “consistent with discharge residues due to firing a weapon”. However, reports carried out by Ms Kennedy’s legal team, KRW Law, cast doubt on the original findings, saying it did not “provide any salient evidence to conclude that Mrs Meehan had fired a gun”. The review added that the original report failed to consider other sources “as an explanation for the presence of lead on swabs taken from her hands”.

Dorothy Maguire, 19 years, single, one of two women who died in shooting incident involving a British Army patrol in the Lower Falls area of Belfast, N Ireland. The other woman was her married sister, Maura Meehan, of Brantry Street, Belfast. They were both members of Cumann na mBan, the Women’s IRA, and were the first members of that organisation to die in the Troubles. The soldiers claimed that a gun was pointed at them from the car. It later transpired the women were sounding the car horn to warn local people of the presence of soldiers. 197110230424DM1
Copyright Image from Victor Patterson, 54 Dorchester Park, Belfast, UK, BT9 6RJ
Tel: +44 28 9066 1296
Mob: +44 7802 353836
Voicemail +44 20 8816 7153
Skype: victorpattersonbelfast
Email: victorpatterson@me.com
Email: victorpatterson@ireland.com (back-up)
IMPORTANT: If you wish to use this image or any other of my images please go to http://www.victorpatterson.com and click on the Terms & Conditions. Then contact me by email or phone with the reference number(s) of the image(s) concerned.

Solicitor Kevin Winters said: “Expectations and hopes were raised on the part of the family when new forensic evidence came to light but unfortunately the new attorney general didn’t feel it was sufficient to warrant a new inquest.” Mr Winters said it was a “particularly heinous case” and that the legal action has been launched to “try and gain some measure of accountability to what happened”. “Its a case where that is long overdue and yet again another family are left with no option but to take legal action to try and get some semblance of justice,” he said.

With many thanks to: The Irish News and Connla Young for the original story –c.young@irishnews.com

Murder is Murder is Murder not my words but Mrs Thatchers

Irish children murdered by British Crown Forces in the occupied six Counties of the North of Ireland

https://youtu.be/5dUQx-a8_qw

‘Soldier F’ band members reported to PPS over 2019 Derry march – Derry Now

‘Solder F’

https://www.derrynow.com/news/derry-news/557705/soldier-f-band-members-reported-to-pps-following-2019-derry-march.html

FUCK ‘SOLDER F’

Family of man shot by British Army to take legal action against PPS

 

John Copeland was shot dead by the British army in October 1971

The widow of a north Belfast man shot dead by the British army almost 50 years ago is set to launch legal action over a decision by prosecutors not to order a new PSNI investigation into the killing. 

 

Isobel Copeland’s husband John died in October 1971. Mr Copeland (23) was shot close to his Ardoyne home by a member of the Green Howards regiment and died two days later. Just before he was killed another man, Michael McLarnon, was shot by troops in nearby Etna Drive and died a short time later. Mr Copeland’s widow is currently suing the Ministry of Defence for the alleged unlawful killing of her husband. In 2014 Attorney General John Larkin refused a request to order a fresh inquest into the case. However, after the release of a draft Historical Enquiries Team (HET) report by the RUC/PSNI, Mr Larkin was asked to revisit his original decision. In response he wrote to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) asking them to direct the RUC/PSNI to investigate the shooting.

 

The PPS has subsequently refused to make what is known as a section 35 (5) referral.

 

“We have been fighting this for 15 years and it’s [still] going around. Hopefully we will get some sort of closure” Eddie Copeland 

 

Mr Copeland’s son, prominent Belfast republican Eddie Copeland, said his family was disappointed by the latest decision. “Legacy cases are just dragging their heels and it’s really disappointing,” he said. “My mother is going into her seventies and we want some sort of closure for her before it’s too late.” Mr Copeland said he is mindful of other family’s who lost love and that his family is determined to continue their campaign despite the latest set back.

Sectarianism, Murder, Collusion, RUC, PSNI, MI5, Loyalists, UVF, Stormont, UDA,

 

“I was one and half when my father was killed and my sister two and a half,” he said. “Between us there will be someone there to fight. “We have been fighting this for 15 years and it’s [still] going around. “Hopefully we will get some sort of closure.” Solicitor Kevin Winters, of KRW Law, said as a result of the Attorney General’s intervention the Copeland family had “raised expectations that at last their case would be looked at”. “With decisions like this you cannot blame families if they become disillusioned,” he said. Mark Thompson from Relatives for Justice, who has helped the Family, said: “Rather than acting in the interest of justice it appears the PPS is content with this continuing situation. “This is unacceptable.” A spokesman for the PPS said: “While we understand why families may view a section 35(5) request as a vehicle by which their case can be expedited, the Director of Public Prosecutions considered such a request inappropriate in this case. “The reasons for this have previously been outlined in a letter to the legal representatives of the Copeland family.”

With many thanks to: The Irish News and Connla Young for the original story 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cases against six retired British soldiers to continue

LEGAL cases in the North of Ireland against six retired British soldiers will not be affected by government efforts to prevent what it has described as “vexatious prosecutions”, it has been reported.

A very rare photograph of ‘Soldier F’ which was taken in Co Derry in 1972

Cases are expected to proceed to trial against six former British soldiers including ‘Soldier F’, who faces murder charges over Bloody Sunday in Derry in 1972. The British government has been preparing legislation claimed to stop “vexatious” prosecutions of soldiers linked to the Troubles. The Sunday Times reported that the legislation will not affect the cases already under way, for which trials are expected to start at the end of this year or early in 2021. Government sources told the paper the legislation would not pass through parliament until the end of this year at the earliest.

“There is no existing mechanism for the government to step in with respect to prosecutions in the North of Ireland that are currently on going,” a senior government source said. “Changing the position regarding the government’s powers over prosecutions in the North of Ireland would require primary legislation and would be contrary to the devolution of policing and justice.” Tory MP Bob Stewart, a retired colonel, told the Sunday Times: “I don’t think this is justice for our soldiers who have been investigated number times and then brought before the North of Ireland courts. The prime minister promised he going to sort this out.” UK defence secretary Ben Wallace defended the government’s plans. “The government has repeatedly committed to ensuring equal treatment for veterans, most recently by the prime minister,” he said. “We continue to work with colleagues to deliver on that commitment and end the scourge of vexatious claims and repeated investigations.”

With many thanks to: The Irish News for the original story 

Former Paras fail to stop trial for murder of Official IRA man

TWO former Paratroop Regiment soldiers who fired on Official IRA man Joe McCann failed in their bid yesterday to stop their trial for the murder of the Belfast father of four on April 15th 1972.

DELAY: Official IRA member Óglach Joe McCann was murdered by British Paratroopers in 1972

Known only as Soldiers A and C, they had applied for their trial “to be stayed” on the grounds of delay and fairness. However, Mr Justice Maguire ruled that “the court is confident that the trial process should be able to deal effectively with the points raised” by their defence teams. A date for the trial of Soldiers A and C, whose addresses have been given as Salisbury House in London, will be fixed by the Crown Court next month for the murder of Mr McCann who was shot dead in Joy Street, close to his Markets’ home nearly 48 years ago.

The men are likely to appear in court next year over the death of Mr McCann (pictured in 1971) – who became an IRA poster by thanks to this picture

Outside the Royal Courts of Justice his widow Anne and daughter Nuala (pictured below) and granddaughter Jodie, welcomed the decision, saying that the past four decades had “been very emotional, hard and frustrating”, but that they were “Very happy with the result” and that a trial will take place.said

Joe McCann’s daughter Nuala and widow Anne outside Crown Court

Their solicitor Niall Murphy, of KRW Law, said following the eight-month-long extensive application the court had decided to dismiss it and the family were “looking forward to their day in court and can’t understand why the defendants would fear an independent examination of the facts” and that the family also “looked forward to a fair trial”.

With many thanks to: The Irish News for the original story 

Follow these links to find out more: https://irishrepublicanmarxisthistoryproject.wordpress.com/2013/10/02/joe-mccann-official-ira/amp/

(2)-: https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/ex-paras-to-face-trial-over-1972-killing-of-official-ira-member-38912085.html

(3)-: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_McCann

Ex-soldier to have dialysis while on trial over Troubles shooting

Ex-soldier Dennis Hutchings is pictured outside Plymouth Crown Court stands accused of shooting a vulnerable man with learning difficulties in the back three timesAn army veteran being prosecuted over the killing of a man during the Troubles 45 years ago will endure a much longer trial so he can undergo kidney dialysis.

Dennis Hutchings, 78, who is dying of renal failure, has agreed to appear in person at his trial being held in Northern Ireland.

He had previously vowed not to attend, refusing to recognise the authority of a court in which he had been deprived of the right to a trial by jury.

However, a barrister for Mr Hutchings told Belfast Crown Court his client would appear in person during the non-jury trial, to take place in March.

Proceedings will have to be postponed at least two days each week so that Mr Hutchings can be taken to a hospital in Belfast for dialysis.

The delays will effectively double the length of the trial.

Mr Hutchings, a former member of the Life Guards regiment, has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of a man with learning difficulties during the conflict.

John Pat Cunningham was 27-years-old who was a vulnerable adult with learning difficulties and was shot in the back three times. Shot down in cold blood

John Pat Cunningham, 27, died after being shot in the back as he ran away from an Army patrol near Benburb, Co Tyrone, in 1974.

The case has become a cause célèbre on both sides.

Mr Hutchings will be the first veteran to stand trial over a fresh wave of investigations being conducted by police looking at historic allegations during the conflict.

Mr Hutchings, from Cawsand in Cornwall, also denies attempted grievous bodily harm with intent.

In September, he appeared before a judge in Belfast by video link from Plymouth for his arraignment hearing.

Afterwards, he told hundreds of supporters outside Plymouth Crown Court that he would not attend the trial as he did not recognise the legitimacy of the system.

He previously failed in a Supreme Court challenge against the decision to hear his case without a jury.

At Belfast Crown Court yesterday, Ian Turkington, his barrister, told Mr Justice Colton: “It is his intention to participate in the trial here.”

Mr Turkington said arrangements were being made with Belfast City Hospital to enable Mr Hutchings to undergo dialysis, and he may require treatment three times a week by March.

The judge replied: “I will obviously accommodate any treatment that is required.”

Charles MacCreanor QC, for the prosecution, said it was important that Mr Hutchings had indicated he would attend after his previous “public pronouncements” had caused “concern”.

With many thanks to: The Telegraph and Robert Mendick for the original story 

Judge to rule if ex-soldier will face trial over 1988 murder

SHOT IN THE BACK: Aidan McAnespie

There was a heavy police presence at Dungannon Magistrates’ Court yesterday for the final stage of a hearing into the case of a former soldier accused of shooting a Catholic man dead more than 30 years ago.

Aidan McAnespie (23) was killed as he walked through an army checkpoint in Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone, having been struck by one of three bullets fired from a machine gun.

Although the hearing challenging the position of the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) is now complete, it will be later this month before a decision is taken over whether former Grenadier Guardsman David Jonathan Holden will be committed for trial for manslaughter.

Fifty-year-old Holden, whose address was given as care of his lawyer’s Belfast offices, appeared in court for the second day of a Preliminary Investigation (PI) wearing his regimental blazer, and with many supporters seated in the public gallery of the courtroom.

Mr McAnespie was walking through a British Army border checkpoint when he was shot dead

He is charged with unlawfully killing Mr McAnespie on February 21, 1988, who was on his way to a Gaelic football match.

Seated behind the dock were many family and friends of the deceased, as well as their supporters, including Sinn Fein MP Michelle Gildernew.

The matter was heard by District Judge Amanda Brady over the course of two days, the first of which was back in August.

The content cannot be reported at this time, although the final ruling can be disclosed as it will inform the decision over whether or not Holden will stand trial.

Holden was 18 at the time of the incident.

He now resides in England.

He listened intently to proceedings throughout and did not speak at any stage, save to confirm his identity.

After counsel for both the defence and prosecution concluded submissions, Judge Brady said: “I will take time to consider all evidence and submissions in this matter to establish if there is a case to answer.

“I will give a written ruling in due course.”

While no specific date has been set, it is expected the ruling will be delivered later this month.

Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK which continues to hold PIs, with other jurisdictions abolishing them some time ago.

It is the right of the defence to mount a PI in order to examine evidence of some or all PPS witnesses, with is recorded and signed off as statements.

Such hearings require specific court procedures, usually involving setting aside a specific venue.

A District Judge presides and, after hearing all evidence, will issue a ruling on whether or not the accused person is to stand trial.

With many thanks to the: Belfast Telegraph and Staff Reporter for the original story