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image captionJoe McCann was shot near his home in the Markets area of Belfast in April 1972
Statements given by two soldiers after the fatal shooting of an IRA man are to be excluded from evidence in their trial, a judge has ruled.
Two former members of the Parachute Regiment - Soldiers A and C - are standing trial in Belfast on a charge of murdering Joe McCann in April 1972.
The 24-year old was fatally wounded after he was shot by paratroopers as he was evading arrest while unarmed.
Shortly afterwards Soldiers A and C both admitted firing shots at the man.
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April 27, 2021
BELFAST: Two former paratroopers were not legally justified in opening fire on an Official IRA leader as he ran away from them, a court has heard.
Joe McCann, 24, died after being shot in the Markets area of Belfast in April, 1972.
The two veterans, known as soldiers A and C, appeared in Belfast Crown Court on Monday at the opening of their murder trial. At the outset of proceedings, the two formally entered not guilty pleas.
Opening the case, a prosecution lawyer told the court that Mr McCann was a senior member of the Official IRA who was suspected of involvement in a number of attacks on security forces carried out by the republican group.
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Two former paratroopers deny murdering a man in Northern Ireland almost 50 years ago, a court has heard.
Official IRA member Joe McCann, 24, died after being shot in the Markets area of Belfast in 1972.
The veterans, referred to in court proceedings as Soldiers A and C, entered not guilty pleas at the start of their trial at Belfast Crown Court on Monday.
They will remain anonymous throughout the proceedings.
Opening the case, a prosecution lawyer told the court that Mr McCann was a senior member of the Official IRA who was suspected of involvement in a number of attacks carried out by the republican group.