The trial of a former British soldier accused of murder on Bloody Sunday has opened in Belfast, with prosecutors claiming the shooting of two men was “unnecessary and gratuitous.”
The veteran, known only as Soldier F, is charged with murdering James Wray, 22, and William McKinney, 26, during a civil rights march in Londonderry in January 1972. He also faces five charges of attempted murder.
Case Opens at Belfast Crown Court
Thirteen people were killed and more than a dozen others wounded when paratroopers opened fire on demonstrators in the city’s Bogside area. Soldier F, who served with the Parachute Regiment, has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Because of a court order protecting his identity, Soldier F is appearing behind a screen at Belfast Crown Court, which is hearing the case without a jury.
As well as the two murder charges, he is accused of attempting to kill Patrick O’Donnell, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon, Michael Quinn and another unidentified man. Three of those who survived their injuries are due to give evidence.
Prosecution Claims Victims Were Unarmed
Opening the case, Louis Mably KC told the court the men who died posed no danger to soldiers.
“They were unarmed and shot as they ran away,” he said. He argued that the killings were “unjustified” and that soldiers later gave false accounts to cover up what had happened.
“What they did was to claim, falsely, that the civilians they targeted were armed,” he told the judge.
Mably said the focus of the trial would be events in a courtyard at Glenfada Park in Derry’s Bogside. He alleged that Soldier F was part of a group who opened fire with rifles on civilians as they fled, killing two and wounding four others.
“The civilians did not pose a threat to the soldiers, and nor could the soldiers have believed they did,” he said.
Families March for Justice
Before the hearing, relatives of those killed joined supporters in a march to Belfast’s Royal Courts of Justice. At the front, families carried a banner reading “Towards Justice.”
John McKinney, whose brother William was shot dead, said the start of the trial marked “a momentous day” in their decades-long campaign.
“We will shortly occupy the courtroom with our heads held high and with the knowledge that regardless of the ultimate outcome we are on the right side of history,” he said.
Tony Doherty, chair of the Bloody Sunday Trust, called the proceedings a tribute to the families’ determination. “This day is a tribute to the strength of the families, whose indefatigable campaign for justice has made this happen,” he said.
Veterans’ Anger
The trial has reopened deep divisions over how Northern Ireland deals with legacy cases from the Troubles.
David Johnstone, Northern Ireland’s veterans commissioner, said former soldiers were being unfairly treated. He warned of “wholesale demonisation” and called for a “fair and balanced” process.
He said the vast majority of soldiers who served in Northern Ireland during Operation Banner had done so “with dignity, restraint and professionalism,” adding that the deaths of soldiers killed by paramilitaries rarely receive the same level of scrutiny.
TUV leader Jim Allister also attended court to show support for veterans.
A Long Legal Path
The decision to charge Soldier F was made in 2019 after a police investigation prompted by the Saville Inquiry, which concluded the killings on Bloody Sunday were unjustified.
Eighteen former soldiers were investigated, but only Soldier F was charged. The case was dropped in 2021 after the collapse of another veterans’ trial, before being revived in 2022 following a legal challenge by victims’ families.
One of the first issues for the judge will be whether statements made by soldiers at the time are admissible.
Bloody Sunday’s Legacy
Bloody Sunday remains one of the most defining events of the Troubles. The deaths of unarmed marchers at the hands of British troops deepened mistrust and fuelled support for the IRA, helping to prolong decades of conflict.
The Saville Inquiry, published in 2010, found the killings were “unjustified and unjustifiable.” Then–Prime Minister David Cameron apologised on behalf of the British state, describing the events as “wrong.”
Outlook
The trial is expected to last several months and will be closely watched by victims’ families, veterans and political leaders. For the families, it represents a chance at justice after more than fifty years. For others, it raises difficult questions about how Northern Ireland continues to confront the legacy of its past.
