Quashing of PPS Soldier F Prosecution Refusal, Leaves PPS With Questions to Answer
Speaking on the High Court ruling today to quash the PPS refusal to prosecute Soldier F, Aontú Leader Peadar Tóibín TD, and Aontú Derry City Councillor Emmet Doyle have said the decision leaves the PPS with serious questions to answer, and for the prosecution of Soldier F to continue.
An Teachta Tóibín: “Over 50 years on since the murders of Bloody Sunday in Derry, there have still been no prosecutions for the murders of innocent people by British soldiers that terrible day. It would seem that every reason not to pursue justice has been given and worn out by the powers that be. Today’s ruling is a direct rebuke of the shameful decision of the PPS to not prosecute Soldier F for the murders of James Wray and William McKinney. 14 people were murdered in cold blood that day, but to this day there has been no justice. The PPS have serious questions now to answer as to why they declined to prosecute Soldier F, and whether they will reinstate prosecution of Soldier F. The integrity and public trust in the PPS has been gravely damaged by this entire saga, with deeper questions of the motivation for their actions causing concern. I am calling for the PPS to answer these questions, and will raise the matter at the Oireachtas Good Friday Committee to bring the PPS before the Committee to answer these questions if necessary.”
Cllr Emmet Doyle: “Victims and survivors of British state violence have become too accustomed to being denied justice. British justice is synonymous with no justice. British amnesty is a legal blockade against justice. The patent refusal of both the British and Irish governments to investigate the death toll of British collusion. There are many of us who have lost faith completely in the justice system. Today’s judicial decision to quash the PPS refusal is a welcome one, but also raises the question of why was it necessary? Why did the PPS refuse to prosecute Soldier F for his murders on Bloody Sunday, 1972? Justice delayed is justice denied, and at this point its shockingly clear that justice has been denied to the victims and survivors of Bloody Sunday”.
