Prosecution's Case Against Soldier F on Bloody Sunday Raises Reliability Concerns

Barrister Mark Mulholland KC has questioned the reliability of key evidence in the prosecution's case against Soldier F, a former paratrooper accused of murdering two men on Bloody Sunday. The veteran, named Soldier F for legal reasons, is charged with the murders of James Wray and William McKinney during a civil rights parade in Londonderry on January 30, 1972. Mulholland claimed that Soldier H's evidence, which places Soldier F at the scene of the shooting, is unreliable and contradicts civilian witness accounts.

Key Takeaways:

Soldier H's evidence, which is being relied on by the prosecution, has been described as "unreliable" and "unconvincing" by Mulholland.
Soldier H has given conflicting accounts of the events of Bloody Sunday, changing details over time, and has indicated he will exercise his right against self-incrimination if summoned to attend the trial.
The prosecution's case is "fundamentally inconsistent" and contradicts civilian witness accounts, according to Mulholland.
Soldier F has pleaded not guilty to seven counts, including the murders of James Wray and William McKinney.
The trial began last month, and Soldier F sits in the courtroom behind a curtain, listening to the proceedings.

Statistics:

13 people were shot dead by the Parachute Regiment on Bloody Sunday.
Two other former paratroopers, Soldier G and Soldier H, have given statements placing Soldier F at the scene of the shooting.
Soldier G has since passed away, while Soldier H has indicated he will exercise his right against self-incrimination if summoned to attend the trial.
Soldier F was interviewed voluntarily under caution by officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) across two days from March 8-9 2016.
He declined to respond to questions, stating he no longer has "any reliable recollection of those events".

Sources:

BBC News (no date)
Belfast Telegraph (no date)
The Irish Times (no date)
PA Defence