Dennis Hutchings, 80, a former member of the Life Guards, has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder in 1974..
This is the fourth time the this case has been examined by the law. Despite there being no new evidence the Justice Department of NI opened the case once again. Five years ago Hutchings was arrested by four armed officers, his house was searched (‘for evidence’) and he was taken to Northern Ireland and interrogated twenty-six times in two days.
The ex-soldier is suffering from kidney disease and the trial at Belfast Crown Court will only sit three days a week to enable him to undergo dialysis treatment between hearings.
Veterans Campaign spokesman Robin Horsfall asked ‘ The war for the terrorists ended with the Good Friday Agreement. When will it end for us?’
Dennis Hutchings, 80, has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of John Pat Cunningham in Co Tyrone in 1974. He also denies a count of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent.
This is the fourth time the this case has been examined by the law. Despite there being no new evidence the Justice Department of NI, under pressure from Sinn Fein reopened the case once again. Five years ago Hutchings was arrested by four armed officers, his house was searched (‘for evidence’) and he was taken to Northern Ireland and interrogated twenty-six times in two days.
The ex-soldier is suffering from kidney disease and the trial at Belfast Crown Court will only sit three days a week to enable him to undergo dialysis treatment between hearings.
In 2019, Hutchings lost a Supreme Court bid to have the trial heard by a jury. The non-jury trial in Belfast will be presided over by Mr Justice O’Hara.
The trial is taking place amid ongoing political controversy over UK Government plans to end any future prosecutions related to the thirty year war that lasted from 1969 to 1999.
Veterans Campaign spokesman Robin Horsfall asked ‘ The war for the terrorists ended with the Good Friday Agreement. When will it end for us?’ Dennis Hutchings, 80, a former member of the Life Guards regiment, has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of John Pat Cunningham in Co Tyrone in 1974. He also denies a count of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent.
This is the fourth time the this case has been examined by the law. Despite there being no new evidence the Justice Department of NI, under pressure from Sinn Fein reopened the case once again. Five years ago Hutchings was arrested by four armed officers, his house was searched (‘for evidence’) and interrogated twenty-six times in two days.
The ex-soldier is suffering from kidney disease. The trial at Belfast Crown Court will only sit three days a week to enable him to undergo dialysis.
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Veterans spokesman Robin Horsfall asked ‘ The war for the terrorists ended with the Good Friday Agreement. When will it end for us?’
https://lnkd.in/d4Py8JzF