Another Hillsborough Style Witch Hunt?

[ToraToraTora]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-47540271

[ChillDoubt]

CHILLDOUBT, you said, "the chances of a fair trial for an ex soldier in NI are decidedly minimal."

If you are suggesting a jury might be partial, there were Diplock courts for many years, trying cases without a jury in specific types of offences.

It is possible still to have trials without a jury and I think it likely there will be no jury in this case.
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Do you seriously believe a former soldier will be tried in such a manner in the 21st century? I’m not saying it won’t but it’s highly unlikely IMHO.
This will rumble on and I daresay there wil be objections and appeals of all kinds on both sides. Given that the UK government will provide all means necessary for his defence I’m sure he’ll have the best QC’s available.
Maybe Soldier F will go down the ECHR route like so many terrorists families did when having their loved ones declared ‘unlawfully killed’ whilst attempting to commit unspeakable atrocities in the name of ‘freedom’.
Either way, after so many terrorists and murderers gaining freedom after the GFA I see no point in pursuing this some 47 years on, it just starts the arguments and re-ignites sectarianism all over again.
Once the GFA was ratified, everything prior should have become null and void. It certainly did for the terrorists.

[THECORBYLOON]

"Do you seriously believe a former soldier will be tried in such a manner in the 21st century? I’m not saying it won’t but it’s highly unlikely IMHO."

Yes, https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-northern-ireland-45486711

[ChillDoubt]

THECORBYLOON,
Exactly. You do realise the link you just provided re-iterates the point I’m making, don’t you?

[agchristie]

Chill,I was wondering that myself although I think the point being made was that it would have been held in such a court had the ruling not been challenged.

[THECORBYLOON]

A decision is due this month and as has been said, my point is that a non-jury trial is entirely possible.

[ChillDoubt]

Exactly ag.
I believe that once one ex soldier has had leave to appeal granted it’ll no doubt snowball as others go down the same route.
The possibility of such trials taking place in this day and age are highly unlikely, thus as I said earlier the chances of a fair trial within Northern Ireland are seriously in doubt.
The whole process is fraught with pitfalls, objections, appeals and prejudice. Nearly half a century on it's right and prudent to let it go, it serves no purpose.

[ChillDoubt]

A decision is due this month and as has been said, my point is that a non-jury trial is entirely possible.
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And you think that would be the end of his appeal process? I believe it’d just be the beginning!

[agchristie]

A Diplock court takes away the threat for juror intimidation but after nearly half a century of which much evidence is already out in the open through Saville,I cannot see the need or benefit to a Diplock Trial here.

When we eventually arrive at the point of trial it will be very interesting to read about the evidence against him.The evidence of his close colleagues at the time would be very persuasive one would imagine.

I can understand many of the concerns around a fair trial,etc and the whole affair has been complicated and protracted.

Justice has to be the winner but who wins in a case like this?

[MONEILL45]

paras were murdering scum and mike jackson and the killers should be tried and if convicted should be executed

[MONEILL45]

murder is murder convict paras and there commander

[ToraToraTora]

they through it out last week genius.