James Forsyth James Forsyth

Why the Bloody Sunday soldiers must not be brought to trial

In The Times today, Danny Finkelstein eloquently sums up why it would be so wrong for any of the soldiers involved in Bloody Sunday to be prosecuted given all that has happened in the peace process:

“To stop the killing, we sacrificed principles that should stand above everything. We sacrificed the rule of law and the principle of one law for everybody. We sacrificed justice and accountability to the courts. We bought peace but there is a bill to pay. And today we must pay it.”

I must admit to sometimes wondering if the price we have paid for peace in Northern Ireland is too high: that too many victims have been denied justice, that unforgivable acts have been forgiven. But given what has gone before, those soldiers involved on Bloody Sunday must not be brought to trial. 

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