Former Paras prosecuted for Murder in 1974
You guess. Down the many years of the Northern Ireland Troubles too many ignorant people have also guessed and innocent people have died as a result. Spouting about human rights and justice is fine but why apply it only to the security forces?
Have you ever heard of Police Sgt Ovens? No, I thought not. In 1956 he was just an ordinary bobby (peeler to us) who went to investigate a reported incident at the Coalisland water supply tower. He was blown to bits by an IRA bomb ... yes, this campaign began 60 years ago.
How about an inquiry into the 1978 bombing of the Collie Dog Club dinner at La Mon Hotel which incinerated 12 people? My wife would have been there but she had the flu that week. Her friend was identified by the frame of her artificial leg. Questions about this horrific attack remain unanswered.
Have you heard of Bloody Friday? No, I thought not. Ten people lost their lives when bombs went off around central Belfast, including a bus station and opposite my own office which was spattered with bits of people. No inquiry there, then?
Having lived through 50 years of this I hold no brief for either side in this conflict, one's as bad as the other and they're still at it. But I am certain that had it not been for the brutal British soldiery now being investigated for doing their best in impossible situations our civil war would have been as brutal as those now in the Mideast. I could fill 20 pages of this thread with similar incidents for which nobody will ever be held to account, but I try to forget about it. Could I ask you to do the same and cease from ill-informed "guesses" and speculation which can still cause distress to those who were here?
Have you ever heard of Police Sgt Ovens? No, I thought not. In 1956 he was just an ordinary bobby (peeler to us) who went to investigate a reported incident at the Coalisland water supply tower. He was blown to bits by an IRA bomb ... yes, this campaign began 60 years ago.
How about an inquiry into the 1978 bombing of the Collie Dog Club dinner at La Mon Hotel which incinerated 12 people? My wife would have been there but she had the flu that week. Her friend was identified by the frame of her artificial leg. Questions about this horrific attack remain unanswered.
Have you heard of Bloody Friday? No, I thought not. Ten people lost their lives when bombs went off around central Belfast, including a bus station and opposite my own office which was spattered with bits of people. No inquiry there, then?
Having lived through 50 years of this I hold no brief for either side in this conflict, one's as bad as the other and they're still at it. But I am certain that had it not been for the brutal British soldiery now being investigated for doing their best in impossible situations our civil war would have been as brutal as those now in the Mideast. I could fill 20 pages of this thread with similar incidents for which nobody will ever be held to account, but I try to forget about it. Could I ask you to do the same and cease from ill-informed "guesses" and speculation which can still cause distress to those who were here?
Prosecution will go forward to court after evidence gathered by PSNI.
If there is valid evidence then that will be laid before the court for it to decide whether a proscution case should go forward.
It may be dismissed and end there.
If a prosecution goes forward there will be a Guilty or Not Guilty verdict.
As previously highlighted there have been other people from Loyalist and Republican sides been arrested for actions committed during The Troubles, should these just be dismissed as well ?
Senior military judge mishandled trial of jailed marine Alexander Blackman, official report finds
I wonder if Judge Blackett failed to direct upon the option of a manslaughter conviction because he did not expect the jury to convict on a murder charge? Would have been an admirably cunning plan, except for . . .
Britain’s most senior military judge mishandled the trial of a Royal Marine accused of murdering a wounded Taliban fighter to the extent that his conviction may now be quashed, the body that investigates potential miscarriages of justice has found.
The Criminal Cases Review Commission concluded that Jeff Blackett, the Judge Advocate General, was guilty of an “apparent failure” to properly apply the law when he failed to give a military jury the option of convicting Alexander Blackman of the lesser charge of manslaughter, according to extracts of an official report seen by The Telegraph.
The Criminal Cases Review Commission concluded that Jeff Blackett, the Judge Advocate General, was guilty of an “apparent failure” to properly apply the law when he failed to give a military jury the option of convicting Alexander Blackman of the lesser charge of manslaughter, according to extracts of an official report seen by The Telegraph.
Thread creep, but...
He was found guilty of murder, which to my mind, is exactly what it was. Pre-meditated and coldly carried out. He told his team what he was doing was illegal.
Now, his case was deplorably handled and the way he was dealt with smells fishier than Billingsgate; I think he was made an example of by a callous chain of command. He should have 'done time' so as to act as punishment and show that what he did was fundamentally wrong.
He was found guilty of murder, which to my mind, is exactly what it was. Pre-meditated and coldly carried out. He told his team what he was doing was illegal.
Now, his case was deplorably handled and the way he was dealt with smells fishier than Billingsgate; I think he was made an example of by a callous chain of command. He should have 'done time' so as to act as punishment and show that what he did was fundamentally wrong.
