British Paratrooper Acquitted in Historic Bloody Sunday Massacre Trial: Northern Ireland's Long Pursuit of Justice

A former British paratrooper, identified only as "Soldier F," has been acquitted of murder charges related to the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre in Northern Ireland, as ruled by Judge Patrick Lynch at Belfast Crown Court on Thursday.

The judge determined that prosecutors failed to establish sufficient evidence proving the veteran intentionally fired upon unarmed civilians who were seeking safety during the incident.

During the announcement of the verdict, both the families of victims and supporters of the ex-paratrooper maintained composure, showing no visible reaction.

Soldier F had entered not guilty pleas to charges including two counts of murder for the deaths of James Wray, 22, and William McKinney, 27, along with five counts of attempted murder involving Joseph Friel, Michael Quinn, Joe Mahon, Patrick O'Donnell, and for discharging weapons at unarmed civilians on January 20, 1972.

While delivering the verdict in the non-jury trial, Judge Lynch stated that the evidence presented against the veteran was significantly insufficient for conviction. However, he condemned the conduct of the Parachute Regiment soldiers on duty that day, stating they had "totally lost all sense of military discipline."

The judge remarked, "Shooting in the back, unarmed civilians fleeing from them on the streets of a British city. Those responsible should hang their heads in shame." Nevertheless, he clarified that since "collective guilt" is not a legal concept in the courts, he could not issue a guilty ruling.

Judge Lynch explained that the only evidence against Soldier F came from two other veterans, Soldiers G and H, one of whom is deceased, creating significant evidentiary challenges.

"Their statements, the sole and decisive evidence, cannot be tested in a way that witnesses giving evidence from the witness box would be," he stated. "Delay has, in my view, seriously hampered the capacity of the defence to test the veracity and accuracy of the hearsay statements."

This verdict, reflecting the prosecution's weak evidence, represents a devastating setback for the families of victims who have pursued justice for more than five decades.

The former lance corporal faced charges of two murders and five attempted murders. Prosecutors alleged he fired at fleeing demonstrators in Londonderry (also known as Derry) during an incident where 13 people were killed and 15 others wounded, marking the deadliest shooting of the period known as "The Troubles."

The Bloody Sunday massacre has become emblematic of the conflict between predominantly Catholic supporters of a unified Ireland and largely Protestant forces advocating continued union with the United Kingdom. The killings have remained a source of profound shame for the British government, which initially claimed the paratroopers fired in self-defense after being attacked by gunmen and individuals throwing firebombs.

Although the 1998 Good Friday peace accord largely ended the violence, tensions persist. Families of civilian victims continue seeking justice, while supporters of military veterans argue their sacrifices have been minimized and that they have been unfairly targeted in investigations.

Throughout the five-week trial, Soldier F remained concealed behind a curtain in court and did not testify in his defense. His lawyer presented no evidence. In a 2016 police interview, the soldier claimed to have no "reliable recollection" of the events, but maintained he had properly fulfilled his duties as a soldier.

Defense lawyer Mark Mulholland criticized the prosecution's case as "fundamentally flawed and weak," arguing it relied on soldiers he described as "fabricators and liars" and on the deteriorating memories of survivors who were trying to escape what some mistakenly thought was rubber bullet fire.

Survivor testimonies described scenes of confusion, chaos, and terror as soldiers opened fire and casualties mounted following a large civil rights march through the city.

The prosecution's case depended on statements from two of Soldier F's fellow soldiers – Soldier G, now deceased, and Soldier H, who refused to testify. The defense unsuccessfully attempted to exclude these hearsay statements since they could not be subject to cross-examination.

Prosecutor Louis Mably argued that the soldiers, without justification, had all opened fire with intent to kill, thus sharing responsibility for the casualties.

An initial formal inquiry exonerated the troops, but a subsequent and more comprehensive review in 2010 concluded that soldiers had shot unarmed civilians who were fleeing and then engaged in a cover-up that persisted for decades.

Following this review, then-Prime Minister David Cameron apologized, acknowledging that the killings were "unjustified and unjustifiable."

The 2010 findings eventually paved the way for Soldier F's prosecution, though numerous delays and setbacks prevented the trial from commencing until last month.