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Justice delayed again for the families of those killed on Bloody Sunday

13 unarmed civilians were gunned down in January 30 1972 in Derry

FAMILIES of those shot dead by British troops during the Bloody Sunday killings of unarmed civilians in Derry nearly half a century ago must wait even longer for justice after a decision on whether to charge those involved was delayed.

Eighteen former British paratroopers are waiting to hear if they will be prosecuted for their role in the events of January 30 1972, when 13 unarmed civilians were gunned down during a peaceful civil rights march in Derry’s Bogside district.

Another victim died in hospital four months later, bringing the death toll to 14.

The families of those killed waged a lengthy campaign for justice in the face of a cover-up by the British state and its military.

The occupying forces claimed that they were fired upon first before they killed peaceful protesters who were demanding justice and equality for Catholics discriminated against by the state in housing, jobs and education.

However, a 12-year inquiry chaired by Lord Saville found that all of the victims were innocent and that the killings were “unjustified and unjustifiable,” opening the door to possible charges against those responsible. 

Files were passed to the Public Prosecution Service  in 2016 and a number of soldiers were interviewed by the police. 

A decision on the charges was due at the end of last year and again over the summer, but, according to a well-placed source cited by the Sunday Telegraph, any announcement is likely to be delayed until next year at the earliest.

An inquest into the Ballymurphy massacre, which took place in west Belfast in August 1971, opened last week. 

Troops murdered 10 people in the two-day killing spree and initially alleged that the victims were armed.

Many believe the Ballymurphy events created a culture of impunity which led to Bloody Sunday a few months later.

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