Soldier accused over Bloody Sunday killings to stand trial in September
Pre-trial hearing in Belfast clears way for former paratrooper’s trial on murder and attempted murder charges related to 1972 Bogside shootings
A former British Army paratrooper known only as "Soldier F" is expected to go on trial at Belfast Crown Court on Monday, 15 September, on charges arising from the Bloody Sunday shootings in Londonderry in January 1972, a court heard on Tuesday.
A short pre-trial hearing at Belfast Crown Court dealt mainly with procedural and logistical matters, and barristers told the judge they anticipated the trial would commence as planned later this month. The veteran faces charges of murder in connection with the deaths of James Wray and William McKinney, who were among 13 people shot dead by soldiers of the Parachute Regiment at a civil rights demonstration in the Bogside area.
Soldier F, who cannot be named because of a court order, has also pleaded not guilty to five counts of attempting to murder Patrick O'Donnell, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon, Michael Quinn and an unknown person on the same date. The pre-trial hearing did not involve evidence or witness testimony and focused on arrangements for the trial, according to lawyers in court.
The events of Bloody Sunday on 30 January 1972 left a deep and enduring mark on Northern Ireland. Thirteen civil rights marchers were killed in the Bogside area of Londonderry after members of the Parachute Regiment opened fire during a protest. The killings became one of the most contentious episodes of the Troubles and have been the subject of repeated investigations and public inquiries.
Legal proceedings connected to Bloody Sunday have continued for decades, and prosecutions of former soldiers have been politically and legally sensitive. The anonymity order preventing the naming of Soldier F remains in place; reporting restrictions were noted during the pre-trial hearing, and the court addressed practical arrangements for managing the case, which is expected to attract public and media attention.
The forthcoming trial will be one of the most high-profile prosecutions arising from the events of 1972. Further procedural hearings may be scheduled ahead of the September start date to resolve any outstanding legal and administrative issues raised by the defence or prosecution.