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| Bloody Sunday: Soldier F murder trial under way | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Soldier F is accused of murdering James Wray (left) and William McKinney | Soldier F is accused of murdering James Wray (left) and William McKinney |
| The trial is under way of the army veteran Soldier F accused of murdering two people on Bloody Sunday in Londonderry in 1972. | |
| The former paratrooper, whose identity remains protected by a court order, has entered pleas of not guilty. | The former paratrooper, whose identity remains protected by a court order, has entered pleas of not guilty. |
| He also denies five counts of attempted murder. | He also denies five counts of attempted murder. |
| Thirteen people were shot dead by the Parachute Regiment when it opened fire on civil rights demonstrators in the Bogside area of the city. About 15 others were wounded. | Thirteen people were shot dead by the Parachute Regiment when it opened fire on civil rights demonstrators in the Bogside area of the city. About 15 others were wounded. |
| The non-jury trial, which is scheduled to last a number of weeks, is taking place at Belfast Crown Court. | The non-jury trial, which is scheduled to last a number of weeks, is taking place at Belfast Crown Court. |
| Soldier F is sitting in the dock of courtroom 12, screened from view behind a black curtain. | |
| He is charged with the murders of James Wray, 22, and William McKinney, 26. | |
| He is further accused of attempting to murder Patrick O'Donnell, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon, Michael Quinn and an unknown person. | He is further accused of attempting to murder Patrick O'Donnell, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon, Michael Quinn and an unknown person. |
| Bloody Sunday families and supporters walked to the Royal Courts of Justice on Monday | Bloody Sunday families and supporters walked to the Royal Courts of Justice on Monday |
| Families and friends of those killed on Bloody Sunday as well as scores of supporters took part in a walk to the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast on Monday, ahead of the opening of the trial. | Families and friends of those killed on Bloody Sunday as well as scores of supporters took part in a walk to the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast on Monday, ahead of the opening of the trial. |
| They gathered in the Markets area close to the city centre and proceeded silently along Victoria Street. | |
| Those at the front of march carried a large banner saying: "Towards Justice". | Those at the front of march carried a large banner saying: "Towards Justice". |
| Tony Doherty, chair of the Bloody Sunday Trust, said: "This day is a tribute to the strength of the families, whose indefatigable campaign for justice has made this happen." | Tony Doherty, chair of the Bloody Sunday Trust, said: "This day is a tribute to the strength of the families, whose indefatigable campaign for justice has made this happen." |
| John McKinney said Bloody Sunday families had "battled against the odds" | |
| Speaking on behalf of the McKinney family before entering the court, John McKinney said it marked "a momentous day in our battle to secure justice for our loved ones". | |
| He said families had battled "against the odds" to get here. | |
| "We will shortly occupy the courtroom with our heads held high and with the knowledge that regardless of the ultimate outcome that we are on the right side of history," he said. | |
| Legacy process | |
| Northern Ireland veterans commissioner David Johnstone claimed former soldiers were being subjected to "wholesale demonisation" as a result of the legacy process in Northern Ireland. | |
| Johnstone called for "a fair and balanced" legacy process. | |
| "The vast majority, and this is important, the vast, vast majority of nearly 300,000 Armed Forces that served here in Northern Ireland during Op Banner (Operation Banner), did so with dignity, with restraint and with professionalism, working to protect communities and to prevent civil war here in this province," he said. | |
| He added that "the stories of soldiers murdered by terrorists receive little media attention, and there's certainly no prospect of a public inquiry into their deaths". | |
| Also speaking outside the court, TUV leader Jim Allister said he had stopped off on his way to London to "show his support" for veterans. | |
| Thirteen people were shot dead by the Army on Bloody Sunday | Thirteen people were shot dead by the Army on Bloody Sunday |
| The decision to charge Soldier F was taken by the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) in 2019. | The decision to charge Soldier F was taken by the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) in 2019. |
| He was one of 18 former soldiers reported to the PPS as a result of a police investigation, which followed the public inquiry into Bloody Sunday conducted by Lord Saville. | He was one of 18 former soldiers reported to the PPS as a result of a police investigation, which followed the public inquiry into Bloody Sunday conducted by Lord Saville. |
| But he was the only one charged. | But he was the only one charged. |
| Two years later, the PPS dropped the case after the collapse of the trial of two other veterans who had been accused of a 1972 murder in Belfast. | Two years later, the PPS dropped the case after the collapse of the trial of two other veterans who had been accused of a 1972 murder in Belfast. |
| But the prosecution resumed in 2022 after a legal challenge. | But the prosecution resumed in 2022 after a legal challenge. |
| The key evidence in the Soldier F case is statements given by other soldiers at the time of Bloody Sunday. | The key evidence in the Soldier F case is statements given by other soldiers at the time of Bloody Sunday. |
| The trial judge is likely to decide at an early stage if they are admissible. | The trial judge is likely to decide at an early stage if they are admissible. |
| Who is Soldier F? | Who is Soldier F? |
| A former British soldier who served with the Army's Parachute Regiment in Northern Ireland during the Troubles | A former British soldier who served with the Army's Parachute Regiment in Northern Ireland during the Troubles |
| He cannot be named due to an interim court order granting his anonymity | He cannot be named due to an interim court order granting his anonymity |
| Soldier F is being prosecuted for the murders of William McKinney and James Wray on Bloody Sunday | Soldier F is being prosecuted for the murders of William McKinney and James Wray on Bloody Sunday |
| He also faces charges of attempting to murder Patrick O'Donnell, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon, Michael Quinn and an unknown person on the same date | He also faces charges of attempting to murder Patrick O'Donnell, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon, Michael Quinn and an unknown person on the same date |