The only British army veteran ever charged in connection with Bloody Sunday has been acquitted of murder and attempted murder.
On Thursday, Belfast Crown Court cleared Soldier F of all charges related to the 1972 incident in Derry, when the Parachute Regiment killed 13 civil rights protesters—a pivotal moment in Northern Ireland’s Troubles.
Justice Lynch stated that prosecutors had not proven guilt and that the nearly 54-year delay had complicated the legal process. “To convict, the evidence must be convincing and clearly reliable. The prosecution’s evidence falls far short of this standard and fails to meet the high bar of proof beyond a reasonable doubt required in criminal cases. Therefore, I find the accused not guilty on all seven counts.”
Outside the court, reactions were divided. Families of the victims felt justice had been denied, while supporters of the former paratrooper celebrated the end of what they called a witch-hunt.
The five-week trial, closely followed by nationalists, veteran groups, and the British and Irish governments, concluded dramatically. The judge presided without a jury, which is allowed in exceptional circumstances.
Soldier F, a former lance corporal, had denied the murders of James Wray, 26, and William McKinney, 22, and the attempted murders of five others. Protected by a court order granting anonymity, he was hidden behind a curtain in the dock.
An initial inquiry after the killings exonerated the soldiers, but a 2010 investigation found they had shot unarmed people and engaged in a decades-long cover-up, leading to an apology from then-Prime Minister David Cameron.
In his verdict, the judge noted that paratroopers had “lost all sense of military discipline” and fired on unarmed civilians fleeing the scene. “Those responsible should hang their heads in shame,” he said.
However, the trial focused on individual, not collective, guilt. The key evidence against Soldier F came from two fellow paratroopers, Soldiers G and H, whose decades-old testimony was deemed unreliable. The judge found their statements, which were the sole and decisive evidence, could not be properly tested due to the long delay, and he described Soldiers G and H as “serially untruthful.”
Outside the court, Mickey McKinney, brother of William McKinney, said the families did not blame the judge but the British state for its role in the murder and cover-up. He expressed pride in their long fight for truth and justice, adding, “Soldier F has been discharged from the defendant’s criminal dock, but it is one million miles away from being an honourable discharge.”
Michelle O’Neill, Northern Ireland’s first minister and Sinn Féin vice-president, called the verdict deeply disappointing. “Fifty-three years ago, the British army indiscriminately murdered civilians on the streets of Derry. Over 15 years ago, the then British prime minister publicly acknowledged the role of British soldiers on Bloody Sunday. Yet not one British soldier or their military and political superiors has ever been held to account. That is an affront to justice.”
Tensions flared outside the court as some family supporters heckled those backing Soldier F.
Paul Young, a spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Veterans Movement, said the verdict would reassure veterans. “Soldiers across the United Kingdom will be happy with this, and I hope no more soldiers are brought to court with evidence that cannot stand up.”
Democratic Unionist Party leader Gavin Robinson stated that most troops who served during the Troubles did so with “honour.”
A British government spokesperson said they had noted the judgment and added, “We are committed to…”We are committed to finding a way forward that honors the past while supporting those who served their country during a very challenging time in Northern Ireland’s history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the Soldier F verdict designed with clear naturallanguage questions and direct answers
Basic Understanding Definitions
1 Who is Soldier F
Soldier F is the anonymous identity given to a former British Army soldier from the Parachute Regiment He was accused of murdering two men and attempting to murder four others on Bloody Sunday
2 What was Bloody Sunday
Bloody Sunday was a tragic event on January 30 1972 in Derry Northern Ireland During a civil rights march British soldiers shot 26 unarmed civilians killing 14 people
3 What was Soldier F found not guilty of
In 2023 prosecutors decided to drop all charges against him This means he was found not guilty of two counts of murder and four counts of attempted murder and the case did not go to a full trial
The Legal Case Verdict
4 Why were the charges against Soldier F dropped
The prosecution concluded that the evidence after 50 years was no longer strong enough to secure a conviction Key witness accounts were deemed inadmissible in court making a successful prosecution unlikely
5 Does not guilty mean he was innocent
Not necessarily In a legal sense not guilty means the prosecution could not prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt It is a verdict on the evidence not a definitive declaration of personal innocence
6 Why was this case so significant
It was the only prosecution to arise from the Bloody Sunday killings despite the Saville Inquiry concluding that the soldiers who fired did so without justification For many it represented a final chance for legal accountability
Reactions and Consequences
7 How have the families of the victims reacted
Many families have expressed profound anger disappointment and a sense of betrayal They feel that the decision denies them justice and reinforces a belief that British soldiers were above the law
8 How have veterans groups reacted
Many veterans and supporters groups welcomed the decision arguing that it was wrong to prosecute soldiers for actions taken during a violent conflict so many decades later
9 What does this mean for other similar historical cases in Northern Ireland
This decision is seen by many as setting a precedent making it extremely difficult to prosecute soldiers for offenses during The
