The case of a former British soldier charged with the murder of a man in west Belfast more than 50 years ago has been heard in the city's Magistrate's Court for the first time.
Patrick McVeigh, a 44-year-old father of six, was gunned down from a passing car on a street corner at Finaghy Road North in May 1972.
Four other people were injured.
Today the case of a former member of an undercover British Army unit known as the Military Reaction Force, or MRF, charged with Mr McVeigh's murder was dealt with in court.
The soldier was not named in the court documents and was referred to only as Soldier F.
He also faced four counts of attempted murder of those with Mr McVeigh that night.
He is not the same soldier who is currently awaiting trial on murder and other charges linked to Bloody Sunday.
The case of three other former soldiers was also dealt with in court.
Along with Soldier F, they are jointly charged with the attempted murder of two other men who were shot in a different incident earlier the same evening.
They were referred to in court as Soldiers B, C and D.
None of the soldiers appeared in court and the judge granted interim anonymity orders in respect of their identities.
The case was adjourned until 30 April to allow their legal teams to read the case papers.
The Magistrate's Court was told consideration was being given by one of the soldiers to have the case against him thrown out due to the passage of time.
The MRF was a secretive unit of the British Army deployed to Belfast in the early 1970s.
They toured nationalist areas in plain clothes and unmarked cars and used non-regulation weapons to engage people they considered to be republicans.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
In 2013, the BBC aired a documentary in which some former members acknowledged that they had fired on unarmed civilians.
It prompted a police investigation looking at 18 different incidents.
These cases can proceed because the prosecution decisions were taken before a deadline in the UK's controversial Legacy Act blocked fresh criminal charges linked to the Troubles.
Speaking after the hearing, solicitor Gary Duffy, who represents the McVeigh family said today "marks a profoundly emotional day for the family of Patrick McVeigh, as they witness the first court appearance of the former soldiers accused of his murder."
He added: "This moment has been over 50 years in the making, and the journey to justice has been long and arduous.
"The McVeigh family has endured decades of pain, uncertainty, and a relentless pursuit of accountability for Patrick's tragic death. The court proceedings today represent a significant milestone in their quest for truth and justice.
"The family's focus remains steadfast on achieving justice for Patrick’s death and ensuring that the truth is brought to light. The family is grateful for the progress made and remains hopeful that this court appearance will represent the next step in achieving truth, justice and accountability."
