Army veterans who face being charged with murder over the Bloody Sunday deaths should not be made scapegoats for the failings of commanding officers and politicians at the time, senior figures have said.

The Telegraph revealed yesterday how four former paratroopers, now in the 60s and 70s,are expected to be charged with murder in connection with the shootings in Londonderry in 1972.

Fourteen civilians were killed by British soldiers and another 14 were wounded when troops from 1 Para fired on a civil rights demonstration in the city.

Prosecutors will meet with victims’ families on March 14 before making the long-awaited announcement on whether former soldiers will stand trial.

But politicians and former military commanders fear the men, who they say had to make split-second decisions on the day, are being made scapegoats for the disastrous confrontation with marchers in the Bogside area of Londonderry.