Brother of Bloody Sunday victim welcomes the judge's decision on 'Soldier F'

A family member of a Bloody Sunday victim has welcomed a judge's ruling that there is sufficient evidence for 'Soldier F' to stand trial for two Bloody Sunday murders.

‘Soldier F’s’ lawyers applied for the case to be dismissed ahead of a trial, arguing there was an "insufficiency of evidence" against him.

However, Mr Justice Fowler said they had failed to convince the court of the evidence against Soldier F.

The former paratrooper—who cannot be identified—pleaded not guilty to all charges relating to 30 January 1972, Bloody Sunday, from behind a screen at Belfast Crown Court.

He is accused of murdering James Wray and William McKinney when members of the Parachute Regiment shot dead 14 civil rights protesters in Derry.

Mickey McKinney, brother of William McKinney, said afterwards: “We are very pleased that Soldier F’s application was refused and that he will now proceed, rightly, to trial. Soldier F is now one step closer to a sentence of life imprisonment. 

“We are disappointed, however, that the trial judge has granted his application for anonymity and screening. 

“It is difficult for us to reconcile the fact that anyone with an interest in the events of Bloody Sunday has been aware of Soldier F’s true identity and his appearance for many years. 

“We all saw him give evidence in open court for 2 days in 2003. 

“We do not consider that Soldier F truly believes that he is under threat from anyone and is merely using the cloak of anonymity and screening as a curtain of shame because of his murderous actions in 1972. 

“The events of Bloody Sunday took place 53 years ago next month. It is imperative that the court does not tolerate any more delay and that this trial proceeds as a matter of urgency. 

“This is a day when we remember all the victims of the British Army in the north of Ireland.”