Lawyers representing Soldier F say they will challenge an attempt to send him to the Crown Court for trial.
At a brief hearing in Derry today Mark Mulholland QC, representing the former paratrooper who was not in court, confirmed he would be challenging the legal move by calling witnesses to a ‘mixed committal hearing’.
The preliminary inquiry hearing can see witnesses give evidence on oath ahead of a decision to commit the case to a Crown Court trial.
Proceedings were adjourned to December 4.
District Judge Barney McElholm granted an interim anonymity order to continue the protection of the accused’s identity.
He said he accepted it would “take some time” before the committal could proceed.
He added: “It’s important that this is all done with a degree of fairness to all concerned in these matters.”
Ahead of the hearing, relatives of Bloody Sunday victims gathered in Derry’s Diamond area before walking together towards the courthouse.
Outside court, Mickey McKinney, the brother of William McKinney, said: “This is a very significant event for us on the journey towards achieving the third and final demand of the Bloody Sunday justice campaign.”
Liam Wray, the brother of James Wray, said it was a “historic day”.
“I am very nervous this morning,” he said.
“We are glad and relieved that his day has arrived, it’s been 47 and a half years.”
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