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Soldiers

Soldier F Trial Begins Amid Controversy Over Legacy Process and Evidence Admissibility

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The highly anticipated trial of the former paratrooper accused of two murders on Bloody Sunday in Londonderry on January 30, 1972, began at Belfast Crown Court on Monday morning. Soldier F, who cannot be identified, is accused of murdering James Wray and William McKinney, and attempting to murder five others. The case is being heard by judge Patrick Lynch without a jury, with the prosecution relying on evidence from Royal Military Police (RMP) statements given by other soldiers who were on the ground during the shootings. The trial comes after a 53-year battle by the Wray and McKinney families to secure justice for their loved ones, who were among the 13 civil rights protesters killed or injured by paratroopers on Bloody Sunday.

Key Takeaways:

  • Soldier F, a former paratrooper, is accused of two counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder in connection with the Bloody Sunday shootings in Londonderry on January 30, 1972.
  • The case is being heard by judge Patrick Lynch without a jury, with the prosecution relying on RMP statement evidence from other soldiers who were on the ground during the shootings.
  • The trial comes amid controversy over the legacy process in Northern Ireland, with many veterans feeling "betrayed" by the process and subjected to "wholesale demonisation".
  • The Saville Inquiry, published in 2010, found that there was no justification for shooting any of those killed or wounded on Bloody Sunday, with then-prime minister David Cameron issuing a public apology.
  • The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) initially discontinued the prosecution against Soldier F in 2021, citing concerns that the case could collapse, but was successfully challenged in court by the McKinney family.

Statistics:

  • 13 people were killed on Bloody Sunday in 1972; another man died four months later from injuries sustained.
  • The Saville Inquiry found that there was no justification for shooting any of those killed or wounded on Bloody Sunday.
  • The trial of Soldier A and Soldier C for the 1972 shooting of Official IRA leader Joe McCann ended in April 2021 after a judge ruled that key evidence was inadmissible.
  • The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) has resumed the prosecution against Soldier F after it was quashed by judges in Belfast.

Sources:

  • PA The long-awaited trial of the former paratrooper accused of two murders in Londonderry on January 30 1972 began at Belfast Crown Court on Monday morning.
  • BBC Northern Ireland launched a murder investigation after the landmark Saville Inquiry, which reported in 2010, found there was no justification for shooting any of those killed or wounded.
  • The Times The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) announced in 2019 that one former paratrooper, Soldier F, would face prosecution for two murders and five counts of attempted murder.
  • The Guardian The Saville report overturned the long-disputed findings of the 1972 Widgery Tribunal which concluded that the soldiers had been shot at first, and returned fire in self-defence.

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