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Soldiers

Concerns Raised Over Social Media Comments in Bloody Sunday Trial

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A judge has expressed concerns about comments made on social media by Jamie Bryson regarding the trial of a former paratrooper charged with the murder of two men on Bloody Sunday. Soldier F is currently on trial in Belfast on two charges of murder and five counts of attempted murder, which he has denied. The judge's concerns were raised due to a post on X that caused him to worry about potential contempt of court under the Contempt of Court Act. The case has already heard significant evidence, including statements from two paratroopers who were with Soldier F on the day of the incident.

Key Takeaways:

  • The trial of Soldier F, a former paratrooper, is ongoing in Belfast Crown Court, where he is charged with the murder of two men on Bloody Sunday.
  • The judge, Patrick Lynch, has expressed concerns about social media comments made by Jamie Bryson regarding the trial, citing potential contempt of court under the Contempt of Court Act.
  • The case has heard significant evidence, including statements from two paratroopers, Soldiers G and H, who were with Soldier F on the day of the incident.
  • Defence barrister Mark Mulholland KC argued that the statements of Soldiers G and H are fundamentally flawed and unreliable, as they were taken in the early hours of January 31, 1972, and there are no notes regarding how the statements were taken.
  • Soldier H has exercised his privilege against self-incrimination, making it impossible to test the reliability of his statements in the trial of Soldier F.
  • The military does not have an archive of the statements taken by the Royal Military Police, making it challenging to verify the accuracy of the evidence.

Statistics:

  • 13 people were shot and killed by the Army's parachute regiment following a civil rights march in the Bogside area of Londonderry on Bloody Sunday.
  • Two paratroopers, Soldiers G and H, gave statements to the Royal Military Police in the early hours of January 31, 1972, stating they opened fire on the crowd at Glenfada Park North, alongside Soldier F.
  • Soldier H claimed to have fired 22 rounds and "pulled in others, including Soldier F, as a false justification" for his use of force.
  • The trial has entered its second day of legal arguments regarding the admissibility of evidence.

Sources:

  • ASHLEIGH MCDONALD - Free article (no date provided)
  • Thirteen people were shot and killed on Bloody Sunday. (Source: BBC News (no date provided))
  • "Bloody Sunday report could face pressure to be reopened", BBC News (no date provided)

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