Two soldiers set to face murder charges over shooting of IRA member Joe McCann

By M&M News Services

Two former Paratroop soldiers who fired on Official IRA man Joe McCann, today (thurs) failed in their bid to stop their trial for the murder of the Belfast father of four on April 15 1972.

Known only as Soldiers A and C, they had applied for their trial "to be stayed" on the grounds of delay and fairness. However, Mr Justice Maguire ruled that "the court is confident that the trial process should be able to deal effectively with the points raised" by their defence teams.

A date for the trial of Soldiers A and C, whose addresses have been given as Salisbury House in London, will be fixed by the Crown Court next month for the murder of Mr McCann was shot dead in Joy Street, close to his Markets' home nearly 48 years ago,.

Outside the Royal Courts of Justice his widow Anne and daughter Nuala and granddaughter Jodie, welcomed the decision, saying that the past four decades had "been very emotional, hard and frustating", but that they were "very happy with the result" and that a trial will take place.

Their solicitor Niall Murphy of KRW Law, added that following the eight-month long extensive application the court had decided to dismiss it and the family were "looking forward to their day in court and can't understand why the defendants would fear an independent examination of the facts" and that the family also "looked forward to a fair trial".
 

The McCann family outside Court.