While quashing the decision of the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) to discontinue the prosecution of Soldier F in respect of Mr McKinney, the court upheld the decision not to prosecute soldiers for the deaths of five other civilians killed on Bloody Sunday on the basis that the soldiers’ evidence was obtained by compulsion.

Solicitor Ciaran Shiels of Madden & Finucane, representing Mr McKinney’s family, said: “We warmly welcome the decision of the Divisional Court today to quash the decision of the PPS to discontinue the prosecution against Soldier F for two counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder.

“The PPS must now review its decision taking into account this court’s judgment, and properly applying the principals and guidance provided today by it. We would call upon the PPS to move immediately to re-institute the proceedings at Derry District Judge’s Court against Soldier F and to secure his committal for trial in the Crown Court.

“The families continue to be vindicated in their long pursuit of justice.

“We will now study this long and complex judgment and consider if there are any further legal remedies available to families in respect of whom there will be no prosecution of any soldier.”