Soldier Found Not Guilty in Bloody Sunday Murder Trial

Sat Oct 25 2025 15:42:04 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a significant verdict within the ongoing legacy of the Troubles, a former member of the Parachute Regiment was acquitted of murder and attempted murder charges relating to Bloody Sunday in 1972, raising deep emotional responses from victims' families and political figures.

A former soldier, referred to as Soldier F, has been found not guilty of murdering James Wray and William McKinney during the Bloody Sunday incident in 1972, where 13 unarmed civilians were shot dead by British troops. The judge acknowledged that soldiers had lost military discipline but stated that the evidence against Soldier F did not meet the legal standards for conviction. The verdict has sparked mixed reactions, with some families expressing disappointment over the 'continued denial of justice' and others asserting the judgment as a necessary conclusion.

Soldier Found Not Guilty in Bloody Sunday Murder Trial

A former member of the Parachute Regiment has been acquitted of all charges related to the Bloody Sunday incident in Londonderry, which occurred in 1972. Soldier F faced charges of murdering two men, James Wray and William McKinney, as well as five counts of attempted murder.

On January 30, 1972, thirteen unarmed civilians were shot dead during a civil rights demonstration in Derry, a day that left an indelible mark on the history of Northern Ireland.

During the trial, presiding judge Patrick Lynch acknowledged that while members of the Parachute Regiment had undoubtedly shot at civilians, the evidence presented against Soldier F did not meet the threshold for conviction. It’s evident soldiers had totally lost all sense of military discipline, he stated.

The verdict has elicited strong emotions across communities, with families of the victims expressing their feelings of deep disappointment. William McKinney's brother, Mickey, stated, The verdict marks the end of prosecution of Soldier F for murder... We leave this courthouse with an incredible sense of pride of our achievements.

Liam Wray, brother of Jim Wray, reflected on the emotional weight of the trial, emphasizing the ongoing pain experienced by the families involved.

Political responses to the decision varied significantly. Northern Ireland's First Minister, Michelle O'Neill, described the outcome as deeply disappointing, reiterating the prolonged struggle of families seeking justice for their loved ones. In contrast, Gavin Robinson of the Democratic Unionist Party welcomed the verdict as a common sense judgement, calling for a more effective way to address the legacy of the Troubles.

As Soldier F is the only military veteran prosecuted in connection with the events of Bloody Sunday, the decision has rekindled discussions about justice and accountability in Northern Ireland’s complex historical landscape.