PLANS to mount a demonstration through Belfast in support of a former British soldier facing Bloody Sunday murder charges is an affront to grieving families, Sinn Féin MLA Raymond McCartney has said.
The party’s Justice spokesperson was commenting after it emerged that an application has been made to the Parades Commission for a ‘Support for Soldier F’ motorcycle ride on Friday, April 12.
Two weeks ago the PPS announced it is to prosecute Soldier F with two murders and four attempted murders of the Bloody Sunday massacre in Derry in January 1972.
The Foyle MLA said: “The applicants for this demonstration plan to travel through Belfast, passing a number of nationalist areas where civilians were also killed by the British Army.
“They are doing so in support of a former soldier who faces two murder charges and four attempted murder charges as a result of his actions on Bloody Sunday.
“Not only is this an affront to the families of Bloody Sunday who have battled for 47 years for truth and justice, it is also an insult to those in Belfast, including the Ballymurphy families and many others, who are still grieving the loss of loved ones at the hands of the British Army.
“The Parades Commission are due to consider this application next week and Sinn Féin will be raising our objections directly with the commission in advance of that.”
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