Belfast Troubles: Veterans Face Charges Over Shootings

0:00It's April 20th. This is Europe news today, European news powered by AI. Three British Army veterans from an undercover unit called the Military Reaction Force face charges over shootings in Belfast back in May 19, 72. One, known as Soldier F, is accused of murdering Patrick McVeigh, a father of six, and attempting to murder four others at a civilian checkpoint. Soldiers B&D are charged with trying to kill two men in a separate West Belfast incident. These ex-soldiers patrolled in plain clothes during the early troubles. The MRF operated unmarked cars in the city until it got shut down in 1973 over its aggressive tactics. Prosecutors reviewed police evidence from years ago and decided to press charges this year. McVeigh was chatting with checkpoint folks when shots rang out and four others got hit in that clash. In court, defense lawyers argued the soldiers came under fire first, with an arm-a-ly rifle found right by a barricade in one spot. They say up to five RRA members were around then, backing claims of self-defense.

1:04Soldier B's team also hit back, saying he got a letter years ago, promising no prosecution, calling this a broken deal an abuse of process. Soldier S-bin ruled medically unfit for pretrial steps right now. Lawyers for all three want the cases dropped, but prosecutors aren't buying every defense point and plan to respond later. The judge adjourned everything until May 18th. This saga from the troubles keeps unfolding, testing old promises against new evidence in Belfast courts.