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.
He said the shooting on Joy Street took place after an RUC Special Branch Officer attempted to arrest Mr McCann. Mr McCann evaded detention and ran away.
Trial of Northern Ireland veterans is appalling injustice , Johnny Mercer says
The former Defence Minister attends Belfast court for the historic trial of veterans charged with the murder of a senior IRA member in 1972
26 April 2021 • 2:47pm
Veterans gathered outside the court before the start of the trial to voice their protest
Credit: Jason Cairnduff/Reuters
The trial of two Northern Ireland veterans over an IRA killing almost 50 years ago is unfair , Johnny Mercer has said.
Two British paratroopers, known only as soldiers A and C, appeared in Belfast Crown Court on Monday at the opening of their murder trial following the death of senior IRA member, Joseph McCann, in 1972.
Joe McCann: Ex-paratroopers deny murdering Official IRA man
Published
image captionJoe McCann was shot near his home in the Markets area of Belfast in April 1972
Two former paratroopers have denied murdering Official IRA man Joe McCann almost 50 years ago, a court has heard.
The 24-year-old was shot in disputed circumstances at Joy Street in the Markets, Belfast, on 15 April 1972.
Soldiers A and C - both in their 70s - entered not guilty pleas at Belfast Crown Court on Monday.
Later, the court heard that as Joe McCann lay dying, he told one soldier: You have got me cold, I have no weapon.
What was the court told about the shooting?
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.
He said the shooting took place after an RUC Special Branch Officer attempted to arrest him on Joy Street in the Markets area of Belfast. Mr McCann evaded detention and ran away.
The republican was “at the very top of the three-star list of people who were wanted for arrest”, according to the evidence provided at the time of the shooting by the Special Branch officer.
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