Acquittal in Bloody Sunday Murder Case Sparks Mixed Reactions

Sat Nov 01 2025 00:01:21 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a significant verdict, Soldier F, a former member of the Parachute Regiment, has been found not guilty of murder and attempted murder in relation to the tragic events of Bloody Sunday in 1972, eliciting a spectrum of responses from family members, community leaders, and veterans.

A Belfast Crown Court has acquitted Soldier F of murder and attempted murder charges regarding Bloody Sunday, where 13 civil rights demonstrators were killed. The decision has prompted reactions that range from disappointment among victims' families to relief expressed by some veteran organizations. Judge Patrick Lynch criticized the conduct of soldiers on that day, noting that the evidence presented did not meet the required standard for conviction.

A former member of the Parachute Regiment has been found not guilty of murder and attempted murder in Londonderry on Bloody Sunday in 1972.

Thirteen people were shot dead and at least 15 others injured on Bloody Sunday in January 1972 at a civil rights demonstration in the Bogside area of Derry.

Soldier F, whose anonymity is protected by a court order, faced charges of murdering James Wray, 22, and William McKinney, 26, as well as five charges of attempted murder.

The judge said members of the Parachute Regiment had shot unarmed civilians as they ran away, but the evidence against Soldier F had fallen well short of what is required for conviction.

Judge Patrick Lynch told Belfast Crown Court that the members of the Parachute Regiment who had entered Glenfada Park North on Bloody Sunday had totally lost all sense of military discipline.

They had, the judge said, shot unarmed civilians fleeing from them on the streets of a British city.

Those responsible should hang their heads in shame, he said.

Outside court, William McKinney's brother Mickey emphasized that the verdicts marked the end of prosecution of Soldier F for murder and attempted murder of the innocents on Bloody Sunday. The families and wounded and their supporters leave this courthouse with an incredible sense of pride for our achievements, he stated.

Others, including Liam Wray, brother of another victim, expressed that justice had not been achieved but recognized the difficult position the judge faced during the trial.

Political leaders also responded, with First Minister Michelle O'Neill labeling the verdict as deeply disappointing for families who have fought for justice over five decades.

Conversely, reactions from some veteran organizations were more positive, with Paul Young from the Northern Ireland Veterans' Movement expressing that veterans who served honorably would be heartened by the verdict.

The case is part of the complex legacy of the Troubles, which deeply affected many families and communities.

A public inquiry concluded in 2010 found that none of the people killed posed any threat to the Army during the tragic events of Bloody Sunday.