No further Bloody Sunday arrests until legal case heard

Seven former paratroopers seeking a judicial review into way PSNI is conducting inquiry

Archive footage from Bloody Sunday in Derry, January 30th 1972, showing former Bishop of Derry Dr Edward Daly as he helped victims of the shootings. Video: Reuters

Detectives investigating the Bloody Sunday killings have undertaken not to arrest any more ex-soldiers until a legal challenge against their detention approach is heard.

Seven former paratroopers are seeking a judicial review into the way the PSNI is conducting its historical inquiry into the deaths of 14 civil rights demonstrators in Derry in 1972.

The legal bid argues that the men should not be arrested and taken to Northern Ireland for questioning because they are willing to voluntarily attend police interview in England.

It was lodged with the High Court in London after the arrest of a former colleague in Northern Ireland last week - the first ex-soldier detained.

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A judge in London has scheduled a hearing at the Divisional Courts in London on Thursday, November 26th.

It is understood the PSNI made the undertaking not to make any further arrests before the hearing through legal correspondence with lawyers for the ex-soldiers.

The 66-year-old detained in Co Antrim last Tuesday was released on police bail a day later.

His arrest was welcomed by relatives of those killed.

However, a petition calling for soldiers involved in Bloody Sunday to be granted immunity from prosecution has gained more than 23,000 supporters in less than a week.

A protest march against the police investigation of the former paras is also being planned in London this weekend.

Thirteen people were killed by members of the Parachute Regiment on the day of the incident in Derry’s Bogside. Another victim of the shootings died in hospital four months later.

Northern Ireland police launched the murder investigation in 2012. It was initiated after a Government-commissioned inquiry, undertaken by Lord Saville, found that none of the victims was posing a threat to soldiers when they were shot.

Following the publication of the Saville report in 2010, Prime Minister David Cameron apologised for the Army's actions, branding them "unjustified and unjustifiable".

In September, the PSNI told bereaved families they intended to interview a number of former soldiers about their involvement on the day.