Bishop Edward Daly carryinig a white handkerchief on Bloody Sunday in January 1972
District Judge Peter Magill returned Soldier F’s case to the Crown Court in Belfast on a date yet to be fixed.
Said Cllr Harkin: “People Before Profit welcome the decision to prosecute the Parachute Regiment Soldier known as Soldier F.
“He is accused of murdering William McKinney and James Wray during the Bloody Sunday massacre on 30 January 1972.
“We commend the relentless efforts of the Bloody Sunday families who have continued the push for truth and justice despite the efforts of the British government to deny it through cover-up, delay and regressive legislation.
“The trial of Soldier F should be the beginning of a process to finally deliver justice to those who were killed by the British Army in Derry that day.
“Soldier F was following the orders of his superiors within the Paras.
“One of his superiors, Lt. Colonel Derek Wilford lived to a ripe old age, was honoured by the British Queen and saw out his days having never been held accountable for his actions not just in Derry but in Ballymurphy and the Shankill.
“Another of his superiors, Michael Jackson, rose through the ranks to become Britain’s top soldier after Bloody Sunday.
“He was key to the cover-up of the actions of Soldier F and the rest of the Paras in Derry that day.
“Now Sir Michael Jackson, he lives freely while the families of his victims are forever imprisoned in grief.
“Legislation barring justice and the truth here or anywhere in the world will never be acceptable.
“The 52nd Anniversary of Bloody Sunday week of events and march will send this message loud and clear.”