PSNI owes families 'sincere and public  apology' over potential prosecutions

Formally responding this morning to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) No Prosecution  Direction regarding the Bloody Sunday Families and supporters, Ciarán Shiels of Madden & Finucane Solicitors said it was "a victory for common sense".

He added: "We welcome the PPS decision in this matter, which  applies to all those potentially facing criminal prosecution. We also recognise the Directing  Officer’s public commitment that she would come to her decision in respect of any potential  prosecution as expeditiously as possible."

Mr Shiels represents the majority of the Bloody Sunday Families and Wounded.

He represents all the Bloody Sunday victims who were reported by the Police Service for Northern Ireland to the Public Prosecution Service on foot of an  allegation that they took part in an illegal public procession to Bishop Street Courthouse on  25th August 2023. 

This was the day that the criminal prosecution against Soldier F was re-commenced, after the  Bloody Sunday victims overturned a decision taken by the PPS to withdraw all charges of  murder and attempted murder in respect of some of those unarmed civilians that he murdered  in Derry on 30th January 1972.  

He also represents Mr Colum Eastwood the Member of Parliament for Foyle who was  one of the individuals who had a file forwarded by the PSNI to the PPS concerning a formal  criminal complaint made by Mr Jamie Bryson to PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Robert  Singleton, that the Bloody Sunday victims, their solicitors, Ciarán Shiels and Fearghal Shiels  and their political representatives who included Colum Eastwood MP, Padraig Delargy MLA  and Councillor Christopher Jackson all took part in an unlawful public procession to attend  the Soldier F murder hearing. 

Mr Shiels added: "This was a matter that never should have troubled the PPS, who have genuine and serious  criminal cases that require to be progressed through the courts. This case could not possibly  have passed the ‘interests of justice’ limb of the well-known legal test for prosecution. The decision taken by the PPS this morning was the only sensible and rational decision that could  be taken in the circumstances. 

“However, in stark contrast, the PSNI, at the highest level, have extremely serious questions  to answer. 

“The attempted prosecution of the Bloody Sunday victims was initiated by the convicted  criminal Jamie Bryson. He was not present in Derry on 25th August 2023. He could not have  been inconvenienced or intimidated in any way by the dignified journey of the Bloody  Sunday victims to the local Courthouse. No one was. 

“The preposterousness of Mr Bryson’s proposal for the prosecution of the Families and  Wounded is underscored by the fact that the complainant himself was, found guilty of the  criminal offence of taking part in unnotified processions and obstructing traffic in 2015, for  which he received a six-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years at Belfast  Magistrates Court. These offences took place during incidents connected to the loyalist flag  protests which were prevalent at that time. In addition to the foregoing, Mr Bryson has also  been on bail for a considerable period of time and awaits trial as a defendant in our Crown  Courts for an offence of criminal conspiracy alleged to have been committed by him over a  three-week period in 2015. 

“Notwithstanding this, the complainant has a relationship with the PSNI that provides him  with ready and direct access to a police officer holding the rank of Assistant Chief Constable.  Mr Bryson saw fit to publicly disclose on social media, the fact that he made this criminal  complaint to ACC Robert Singelton immediately after providing his statement to him. 

“However, far from warning Mr Bryson to immediately desist from wasting valuable police  time, the PSNI at this senior level directed this plainly spurious complaint be investigated.  This decision was taken knowing full well that genuine victims of State violence, all of  pensionable age, would endure for months (including over the Christmas period) the very real  possibility of being subjected to arrest by the PSNI and subsequent prosecution by the PPS in  the criminal courts. We now intend to immediately lodge a detailed complaint on behalf of  the Families and Wounded to the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland.”  

No prosecution for Bloody Sunday families and supporters

'After careful consideration of all evidence submitted by police and the full context in which the procession took place, decisions were taken not to prosecute all seven on public interest grounds' - PPS

Eastwood welcomes no Bloody Sunday prosecution decision

Families should not have been put through this ordeal on top of 50 years of injustice' - Colum Eastwood

Michael McKinney, one of the brothers of William McKinney, whose murder Soldier F is to  stand trial for said in response to the PPS decision: 

“Jamie Bryson has no genuine interest in the events of Bloody Sunday. He is motivated by  self-interest, publicity stunts and an overriding concern to keep himself relevant. He has been  tolerated by an element within the Police Service of Northern Ireland to the point where he  has been facilitated to make a hurtful and mischievous complaint against the Families who  were facing one of their most difficult days in this seemingly endless prosecution. He has  attempted to equate the activities of Loyalist bandsmen with the Bloody Sunday Families and  Wounded who were walking the streets of their own city to attend court as a mark of support  for the Public Prosecution Service in the prosecution of the ex-soldier who casually murdered  our loved ones with impunity until now. 

“I welcome the decision of the PPS. It was the only decision they could have come to. What I  am angry about is the timid appeasement and then the active facilitation of this malicious  complaint which has hung over us now for almost six months.  

“The PSNI proudly claim to be ‘a victim-lead organisation’. I think the most Senior Officers  in the PSNI need to ask themselves whether they have protected the rights and interests of  victims in this instance. In relation to this case, they should be ashamed and mortified at their  own actions and they owe the Bloody Sunday Families and Wounded a sincere and public  apology.”