Two former paratroopers accused of the murder of an IRA man, Joe McCann in 1972 have been formally acquitted after their trial collapsed.
Joe McCann, 24, was shot in disputed circumstances at Joy Street in the Markets area of Belfast in April 1972.
The court heard he was evading arrest when soldiers opened fire, killing him.
Soldiers A and C, both in their 70s, had pleaded not guilty. The men admitted firing shots but said they had acted lawfully when doing so.
Solicitors for the former soldiers said the prosecution should “never have got off the ground” and called for an inquiry led by a senior judge to investigate “the decision-making process and to ensure that the decision to prosecute these veterans was not political.”
After the prosecution confirmed it would be presenting no further evidence in the case, the judge told both former soldiers: “In the circumstances, Mr A and C, I formally find you not guilty of the charge of murder.”
Unity News Network (UNN) Staff Writer | To find out more details about our staff, please head to the About Us section on our website.
