A 76-year-old Army veteran has accused the Government of a “scandalous betrayal” after being investigated for the attempted murder of two protesters injured by flying debris on Bloody Sunday

The former paratrooper - who can be identified only as Sergeant O - was given a medal for bravery on the same tour of Northern Ireland in 1972 for which he could now face jail.

Sergeant O, who is partially paralysed down one side after suffering a stroke, decided to break his silence in anger at remaining under criminal investigation. He faces becoming the first soldier charged over Bloody Sunday.

The veteran was interviewed by police under caution for attempted murder in April 2016 and has been kept in limbo ever since.

Sergeant O told The Telegraph: “It’s completely ludicrous. Why am I still being investigated after all these years? I am sickened. The Government has mishandled this so badly. I feel very badly betrayed. It is absolutely scandalous.”