Prosecutors stated that there was insufficient evidence to convict the veterans in court due to the passage of time, the failure to conduct effective investigations at the time, and the deaths of significant witnesses.

Martin Hardy, PPS assistant director, acknowledged the disappointment of victims' families whose loved ones were killed during the Troubles in Northern Ireland and whose cases were not prosecuted due to a May 1 deadline imposed by the Northern Ireland legacy act.

Two such cases involved the shooting death of 15-year-old Geraldine McGavigan in Derry in 1971 while she was still wearing her school uniform during rioting in the Bogside area.

After this deadline, no prosecution could have proceeded to trial.

Prosecutors were considering charging a veteran, Soldier B, for the killing of a teenager, McGavigan.

However, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PPS) concluded that there was not enough evidence to determine if Soldier B fired the fatal shots.

The PPS also suggested it was possible the shots were fired in self-defense against a reported gunman.

After the prosecution decision, Northern Ireland's attorney general granted a new inquest into McGavigan's death.