Bloody Sunday relatives on the march for justice this morning in Derry
Relatives were joined by supporters close to the scene of the shootings in Derry’s Bogside ahead of a march to a city centre hotel where they will find out if the veterans will face court action.
John Kelly, whose brother Michael was shot dead aged 17, said he was “hoping and praying” families will get news of prosecutions.
“We’re all very anxious, nervous, but at the same time we’re sort of fairly confident that we are going to get what we want,” he said.
“I’m standing here where Michael was shot dead. Hoping he’s looking down on me and saying ‘fair play to you, I’m very proud of you’.
“And all the families probably feel the same way that what we’re trying to achieve is for them (the victims).”
As the march approached the hotel the families began singing We Shall Overcome, an anthem of the civil rights movement.
Those entering the hotel shook hands and hugged relatives before leaving them to learn the news from the prosecution service.
One of the crowd shouted: “Bring us back justice.”
Thirteen civil rights demonstrators were shot dead on January 30 1972, on one of the most notorious days of the Northern Ireland Troubles.
Former members of a support company of the 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment are facing possible charges from THE North of Ireland’s Public Prosecution Service (PPS).
They could include charges of murder, attempted murder and causing grievous injury with intent.
The PPS has been considering a number of files from the PSNI’ Legacy Investigation Branch which carried out a criminal investigation into the murders.