Headlines
British soldier stands trial over 1972 Bloody Sunday killings
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on September 15, 2025
3 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Quick Summary
The trial of Soldier F for the 1972 Bloody Sunday killings begins, focusing on the shooting of seven civilians. This marks a significant moment in Northern Ireland's history.
Trial Begins for British Soldier Charged in 1972 Bloody Sunday Shootings
BELFAST (Reuters) -The trial of the sole British soldier charged with murder over the 1972 "Bloody Sunday" killings of 13 unarmed Catholic civil rights marchers in Northern Ireland began on Monday, over half a century on from one of the defining moments of The Troubles.
The soldier, who cannot be identified and is known as Soldier F, is accused of murdering two men and attempting to murder five others when members of a British army regiment opened fire in the mainly Irish nationalist city of Londonderry.
It remains the worst single shooting incident of three decades of sectarian violence involving nationalists seeking a united Ireland, pro-British unionists wanting to remain part of the United Kingdom and British forces. A 1998 peace deal largely ended the bloodshed.
After years of campaigning by victims' families, prosecutors decided in 2019 there was insufficient evidence to charge 16 other former soldiers.
They pressed on with charges against Soldier F, who sat in the dock on Monday surrounded on all four sides by black sheets with a microphone hanging from the ceiling above.
Lawyers for the prosecution said the case had a specific and narrow focus on the shooting of seven of the civilians as they ran away through a residential courtyard.
"The shooting was unnecessary and it was gratuitous and was carried out with an intent to kill," Louis Mably, a lawyer for the prosecution, told Belfast Crown Court.
Soldier F has already pleaded not guilty to the seven charges.
Before the proceedings started, relatives of some of the victims marched to the courthouse, holding photographs of those who had been killed and a banner saying "towards justice".
The black and white pictures included William McKinney and James Wray, the two men in their 20s who Soldier F is accused of killing.
The British government apologised for the "unjustified and unjustifiable" killings in 2010 after a judicial inquiry found that the victims were innocent and had posed no threat to the military.
Soldier F was charged in 2019 but prosecutors initially decided not to go to trial over fears key evidence could be ruled inadmissible after a similar trial collapsed over issues regarding the admissibility of evidence.
Northern Ireland's High Court quashed the decision to discontinue the murder case in 2022 after a legal challenge by the victims' families.
(Writing by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
Key Takeaways
- •Trial begins for Soldier F over 1972 Bloody Sunday killings.
- •Soldier F accused of murdering two and attempting to murder five.
- •Bloody Sunday remains a defining moment of The Troubles.
- •Prosecutors focus on shooting of seven civilians.
- •British government apologized for the killings in 2010.
Frequently Asked Questions about British soldier stands trial over 1972 Bloody Sunday killings
1What is Soldier F accused of?
Soldier F is accused of murdering two men and attempting to murder five others during the Bloody Sunday incident when British soldiers opened fire on unarmed civilians.
2What was the outcome of the judicial inquiry in 2010?
The British government apologized for the 'unjustified and unjustifiable' killings after the inquiry found that the victims were innocent and posed no threat to the military.
3Why did prosecutors initially decide not to charge Soldier F?
Prosecutors initially decided against charging Soldier F due to fears that key evidence could be ruled inadmissible, following a similar trial that collapsed over evidence issues.
4What led to the revival of the murder case against Soldier F?
The murder case against Soldier F was revived after Northern Ireland's High Court quashed the decision to discontinue the case in 2022, following a legal challenge by the victims' families.
5What was the public reaction to the trial's commencement?
Before the trial began, relatives of the victims marched to the courthouse, holding photographs of those killed and a banner that read 'towards justice', indicating their ongoing quest for accountability.
