Former IRA members may face prosecution over Bloody Sunday

Two former members of the Official IRA could face prosecution for their alleged role in the events of Bloody Sunday.

Prosecutors are already examining files of evidence against 18 ex-British soldiers who were on the streets of Londonderry in 1972 when the Parachute Regiment shot and fatally wounded 14 civil rights demonstrators.

A public inquiry into the killings heard evidence that Official IRA members fired shots at soldiers in Derry on the day.

The PSNI has now sent a file on one former Official IRA member to Northern Ireland's Public Prosecution Service for consideration and is preparing a file on another ex-member.

A decision on whether any of them will face prosecution is expected within six months.

The PPS has written to the families of those killed to inform them of the development.

Thirteen people were shot dead by soldiers on Bloody Sunday. A fourteenth died four months later in hospital.

A murder investigation was launched in 2012.

It was initiated after the government-commissioned inquiry, undertaken by Lord Saville, found none of the victims was posing a threat to soldiers when they were shot.

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

A PPS spokesman said: "We have provided regular updates to all of the families in relation to the Bloody Sunday case, with the most recent contact last week.”

"Over the course of last year, the PSNI has provided around 35 lever arch files of material, with further material anticipated. Our focus currently is completing our analysis of the police investigation files and on the identification of all significant legal issues and their resolution.

"We have consistently made it clear that the prosecution task in this case is considerable but we are making steady progress."