Soldier F, the former British paratrooper accused of murdering James Wray and William McKinney and the attempted murder of five other people – Joseph Friel, Joseph Mahon, Michael Quinn, Patrick O’Donnell, and a person unknown – in Derry on Bloody Sunday in 1972, has been found not guilty.
Believed to be in his 70s, Soldier F had pleaded not guilty to the seven charges against him. He did not testify during the non-jury trial that began in September.
Judge Patrick Lynch KC handed down the verdict today, Thursday, October 23, at Belfast Crown Court.
“Soldiers G, H, F and E were part of the initial group of soldiers who entered the square [on Bloody Sunday] and were responsible for the deaths and woundings,” Judge Lynch said in his decision.
“They had totally lost all sense of military discipline.
“They were members of a regiment formed in 1942, at the behest of Prime Minister Churchill, and had a proud record in World War Two. Perhaps most notably in Operation Market Garden in the, ultimately failed, attempt to capture bridges over the river Rhine which would, in all likelihood, have foreshortened the war if successful. Those who fought valiantly against SS Panzer Divisions in 1944, have had their Regiment sullied by some of their successors, shooting in the back unarmed civilians fleeing from them in the streets of a British city.
“Those responsible should hang their heads in shame.”
He continued: “Whatever suspicions the court may have about the role of F, this court is constrained and limited by the evidence properly presented before it.
“To convict, it has to be upon evidence that is convincing and manifestly reliable. The evidence presented by the Crown falls well short of this standard and signally fails to reach the high standard of proof required in a criminal case; that of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
“Therefore, I find the accused not guilty on all seven counts on the present bill of
indictment.”
According to RTÉ News, the families of some of the Bloody Sunday victims were in court on Thursday for the verdicts. They gave no visible or audible response as Soldier F was found not guilty on all counts.
There was also no reaction from those in the public gallery supporting Soldier F.
Soldier F was in court for each day of the trial with his identity concealed behind a curtain.
Relatives of the men killed and supporters attended each day of the case.
Today we joined the Bloody Sunday families for their walk to court for the outcome of the ‘Soldier F’ trial.
Sinn Féin will continue to stand with the families in their courageous and dignified fight for justice. pic.twitter.com/OiQARmiiz1
— Sinn Féin (@sinnfeinireland) October 23, 2025
“A coward walks free from the dock”
Following the verdict, Mickey McKinney, brother of victim William McKinney, said: “Today marks the end of the prosecution of Soldier F for the murder and attempted murder of the innocents on Bloody Sunday.
“The families and wounded and our supporters leave this courthouse with an incredible sense of pride in our achievements.
“Soldier F has been discharged from the defendant’s criminal dock, but it is one million miles away from being an honourable discharge.
“Unlike his victims, there has been no declaration of Soldier F’s innocence.
“Soldier F created two young widows on Bloody Sunday, and he orphaned 12 children. And he deprived dozens of siblings of a loving brother.”
Jim Wray and William McKinney were both murdered on Bloody Sunday.
McKinney said the Bloody Sunday families “do not lay the blame for today’s decision with the judge,” rather with the British State, the RUC, and the British Army.
He added: “Most importantly however, responsibility lies with the thugs of Frank Kitson’s private army, the 1st Battalion of the Parachute Regiment who opened fire, and those who directed and protected them.”
He continued: “Despite the heroism, steadfastness and dignity of the Bloody Sunday Families and Wounded, a coward walks free from the dock.
“Not through the front door of this courthouse like every other vindicated, wrongly accused defendant proudly does, but instead, once his curtain has been pulled back for him, creeping out the back door.
“The type of thug, who is well used to special treatment, well used to having important and powerful connections, with his police escort in tow, back over to hide in Palace Barracks, where it all began.”
🚨👥NEW: Bloody Sunday families clapped and said they “leave this courthouse with an incredible sense of pride.”
🎤Mickey McKinney, who lost his 26-year-old brother William on Bloody Sunday, spoke outside court after Soldier F was found not guilty.
He said he does not blame the… https://t.co/8yDkarFjJm pic.twitter.com/zIuCyH9n67
— Cool FM News (@newsoncool) October 23, 2025
Bloody Sunday and Soldier F
Soldier F, who cannot be identified but is reportedly in his mid-70s, is the only British soldier to face prosecution over the events of Bloody Sunday.
On January 30, 1972, British paratroopers opened fire on a peaceful protest organized by the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association, which was protesting the poor treatment of Catholics in Northern Ireland.
13 people were killed on the day, while another person died months later after being shot in the leg.
In March 2019, Northern Ireland’s Public Prosecution Service (PPS) announced that Soldier F would be prosecuted for the murders of Jim Wray and William McKinney.
In 2021, however, the PPS dropped the case against Soldier F after a separate trial collapsed against two other former British soldiers.
However, the High Court overruled the decision following a legal challenge from the relatives of Bloody Sunday victims, prompting the PPS to announce in September 2022 that it would recommence proceedings against Soldier F.
In December 2023, District Judge Ted Magill said he didn’t “require any more time” and that he was returning Soldier F for trial on all charges.
The following June, lawyers for Soldier F applied to have the case against their client dismissed ahead of his trial, claiming that there was insufficient evidence. In December, however, Justice Fowler refused the defence application, ruling that statements from the time by two other soldiers provided “a sufficiency of evidence” to continue.
Soldier F pleaded not guilty last December to the murders of Wray and McKinney and the attempted murders of five other people on Bloody Sunday in 1972.
www.irishcentral.com (Article Sourced Website)
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