(In UK) Trial under way of ex-soldier accused of Bloody Sunday murders

The trial of an army veteran known as Soldier F has begun at Belfast Crown Court, more than 50 years after the events of Bloody Sunday in Londonderry. The former paratrooper, whose identity remains protected under a court order, is accused of murdering James Wray, 22, and William McKinney, 26, during the 1972 shootings. He also faces five charges of attempted murder, including against Patrick O’Donnell, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon, Michael Quinn and an unidentified person.

On Bloody Sunday, 13 people were killed and around 15 wounded when soldiers from the Parachute Regiment opened fire on civil rights demonstrators in the Bogside area. The non-jury trial is expected to last several weeks. Soldier F, screened from public view behind a curtain, has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

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Ahead of proceedings, families and supporters of the victims marched silently through Belfast, carrying a banner reading “Towards Justice”. John McKinney, speaking on behalf of his family, called it “a momentous day” in their long struggle for accountability. He said families had battled “against the odds” to secure the trial and would enter the courtroom “with heads held high”, regardless of the eventual outcome.

The decision to prosecute Soldier F was made by the Public Prosecution Service in 2019, after the Saville Inquiry into Bloody Sunday concluded that none of those killed posed a threat. Soldier F was one of 18 soldiers investigated, but the only one charged. The case was initially dropped in 2021 after legal setbacks in other Troubles-related prosecutions, but was reinstated in 2022 following a successful legal challenge. Key evidence in the case is expected to include contemporaneous statements from fellow soldiers, though the court must decide whether these can be admitted.

Outside court, views on the trial remain divided. Tony Doherty, chair of the Bloody Sunday Trust, said the case was a tribute to the families’ persistence. However, Northern Ireland veterans commissioner David Johnstone criticised the process, warning of “wholesale demonisation” of former soldiers. He stressed that most of the 300,000 service members who served in Northern Ireland during Operation Banner acted with restraint and professionalism. TUV leader Jim Allister also voiced support for veterans, calling the proceedings unfair.

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The trial represents one of the most significant legacy cases of the Troubles and is being closely watched as families seek justice while debat