There are fears the murder investigation into the Bloody Sunday killings could collapse after former British soldiers, who are expected to be questioned by the PSNI, began a legal challenge against their possible arrests.
Solicitors acting for seven ex-paratroopers have applied for a judicial review of the way the Police Service of Northern Ireland is conducting its inquiry.
They claim the murder investigation is being pursued for “political reasons” and have questioned its legality.
It follows the arrest of a former Lance Corporal from the Parachute Regiment on Tuesday.
The 66-year-old, known as “Soldier J” during the Saville Inquiry – the first ex-soldier to be arrested as part of the murder inquiry - was last night released on police bail pending further inquiries.
He was detained at his home in Co Antrim on Tuesday morning and taken to a Belfast police station for questioning.
The legal action comes after the PSNI warned soldiers they could lose their anonymity if they were charged with murder or other offences, as they would be treated in the same way as any other criminal suspects.
They were granted anonymity during the 12-year-long Saville Inquiry.
Solicitors acting for seven men – referred to by Lord Saville as soldiers B, N, O, Q, R, U and V – served emergency proceedings against the PSNI in the High Court in London as a response to the arrest of L/Cpl “J”, who is being questioned over three deaths after being held on suspicion of murder.
Legal teams have requested the soldiers are given 24 hours’ notice of any arrest, so that they can attend a local police station by appointment.
They have also argued that the murder investigation, launched in 2012, is politically motivated and should be subject to judicial review.
Mickey McKinney, whose brother Willie (27) was one of the 14 men killed by soldiers on 30 January, 1972, said hoped the legal challenge would not effect the ongoing investigation “in any way.”
He added: “These soldiers should not be seeking preferential treatment. They should be treated the same way as any other person suspected of murder.”