Trial of Army veteran over Bloody Sunday proceeds after judge admits key evidence

The trial of an Army veteran known as Soldier F for the Bloody Sunday killings will move forward after a Belfast judge ruled that key statements from two comrades could be admitted as evidence. Soldier F, now in his 70s, sits behind a curtain in Court 12 to protect his identity as the proceedings unfold over the 1972 Londonderry march. He faces charges including the murder of James Wray, 22, and William McKinney, 26, and the attempted murders of Patrick O'Donnell, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon, Michael Quinn and another person during civil rights demonstrations in January 1972.

Judge Patrick Lynch ruled that statements recorded by the Royal Military Police in early 1972 and later used at the Widgery Inquiry could be admitted. The defense argued the statements were compelled, lacked cautions, and were obtained without legal representation, so they should be excluded. The Crown had already acknowledged that these statements form the only evidence capable of proving Soldier F fired the shots. This admission means the core of the prosecution's case rests on testimony that is hearsay, but the judge determined it should be allowed for the purposes of the trial.

With those statements admitted, the court heard that the Crown’s case hinges on hearsay from two witnesses known as G and H, who were in Soldier F’s unit on the day of the shootings. The judge noted that without these statements, the balance of the evidence would likely be insufficient to secure a conviction. The ruling marks a pivotal moment in a case that has drawn intense attention since the Saville Inquiry concluded that the killings were unjustified and after the 2010 apology from then-Prime Minister David Cameron for the deaths. The decision also reignites debate about accountability for Troubles-era violence and the use of long-closed or inherited testimony in prosecutions of security personnel.

The ruling drew emotional reactions from families of those killed. Moments after the decision, relatives embraced in the public gallery as they awaited the next phase of a case that has spanned decades. Veterans groups reacted with mixed feelings: some praised the ruling as a step toward accountability, while others expressed disappointment that prosecutions of service members continue to proceed. Paul Young of the Northern Ireland Veterans Movement said the decision would be met with disappointment by veterans who served in Northern Ireland, highlighting the complex nature of justice for actions during the Troubles.

Bloody Sunday remains a watershed event in Northern Ireland’s history. Thirteen civil rights protesters were killed in Londonderry on January 30, 1972, an event that became a defining moment of the Troubles. The Saville Inquiry, established in 1998 and published in 2010, concluded the killings were unjustified and recommended changes to how such cases are investigated. The inquiry cost about £200 million and was the longest and most expensive public inquiry in British legal history. The findings sparked debate about prosecutions related to Troubles-era violence, with supporters arguing that accountability is overdue and critics contending that prosecutions continue to target veterans while some perpetrators from other groups escaped accountability.

On the first day of the trial, prosecutors contended that Soldier F and three of his comrades followed civilians who were attempting to escape violence and opened fire with self-loading rifles as they ran. They argued that the casualties resulted from unjustified use of force, noting that the civilians were unarmed and posed no evident threat at the time the shots were fired. Soldier F denies the charges and is supported in court by fellow veterans as the trial continues. The proceedings are expected to scrutinize the previously sealed or contested evidence as the case progresses toward a potential verdict.