Former Soldier Charged Over 1974 Shooting

A 73-year-old former soldier has been charged in connection with the death of a man with learning difficulties in Northern Ireland over 40 years ago.

John Cunningham, 27, who had a fear of men in uniform, was shot as he ran away from an Army patrol in a field in Benburb, Co Armagh, in June 1974.

Mr Cunningham had the mental age of a child between six and 10.

The suspect has been charged with attempted murder and is due to appear at Omagh Magistrates Court in Co Tyrone today.

He was arrested in England on Tuesday and was taken to Northern Ireland for questioning by detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland's legacy investigations branch.

The case was reopened by the PSNI and a murder investigation started following a re-examination of the available evidence.

The Government apologised for Mr Cunningham's death in 2013.