A British army veteran, known only as Soldier F, has been found not guilty of all charges relating to the Bloody Sunday killings in 1972. Belfast Crown Court acquitted the former paratrooper of the murders of James Wray and William McKinney, and the attempted murder of five others.
The judge, Mr Justice Lynch, ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, citing the passage of nearly 54 years as a significant factor. He noted that the main evidence, from fellow soldiers G and H, was unreliable due to the delay in testing their statements.
Outside the court, families of the victims expressed disappointment, with Mickey McKinney stating that justice had been denied by a British state complicit in murder and cover-up. Michelle O'Neill, Northern Ireland's first minister, called the verdict deeply disappointing and an affront to justice.
In contrast, supporters of the former soldier welcomed the verdict, with Paul Young of the Northern Ireland Veterans Movement saying it would hearten veterans across the UK. The Democratic Unionist Party leader, Gavin Robinson, remarked that most soldiers served with honour.
The British government noted the judgment and reaffirmed a commitment to acknowledging the past while supporting those who served during Northern Ireland's Troubles. The verdict has sparked renewed debate over accountability for events during the conflict.
