What's happened
A former British soldier is to be prosecuted for the killing of a man in Belfast during the Troubles.
Why it matters
The prosecution of a former soldier for a killing during the Troubles is significant due to the historical context and the ongoing debate around the Legacy and Reconciliation Bill, which aims to give immunity from prosecution for offenses committed during the Troubles.
What the papers say
The Guardian emphasizes that the prosecution is proceeding despite the controversial Legacy Act, while The Times and The Independent highlight the significance of the timing of the decisions, which means the cases are not affected by the Legacy Act. BBC News provides additional context about the Legacy Act and the future amnesties in Troubles cases.
How we got here
The decision to prosecute the former soldier comes amid ongoing debate around the Legacy and Reconciliation Bill, which aims to give immunity from prosecution for offenses committed during the Troubles.
More on these topics
-
Belfast is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdom and the second-largest on the island of Ireland.
-
The Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland is the department of the Northern Ireland Executive responsible for public prosecutions of people charged with criminal offences in Northern Ireland.
-
The Troubles was an ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland during the late 20th century. Also known internationally as the Northern Ireland conflict, it is sometimes described as an "irregular war" or "low-level war".
-
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom or Britain, is a sovereign country located off the northÂwestern coast of the European mainland.