The trial of a former paratrooper accused of murdering two men on Bloody Sunday has heard evidence that he opened fire in the area where they died. Soldier F, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is charged with the murders of James Wray and William McKinney, among other offences, during a civil rights march in Londonderry on 30 January 1972.
Statements from two of Soldier F's colleagues, Soldier G and Soldier H, were read to the non-jury trial at Belfast Crown Court on Tuesday. Both statements include claims that Soldier F fired shots at Glenfada Park North. However, neither soldier is available to be questioned: Soldier G has died, and Soldier H has indicated he will exercise his privilege against self-incrimination if summoned.
The defence has argued that the hearsay evidence is “contradictory, unreliable and inadmissible”, but Judge Patrick Lynch previously rejected an application to have the statements omitted. The statements were given to the Royal Military Police on the night of the shootings, as well as to the Widgery Inquiry later that year.
In his statement, Soldier G claimed that he and Soldier F came under fire from a gunman in Rossville Flats and later saw two men in Glenfada Park holding small rifles. “I fired three aimed shots at one of the men and I saw him fall to the ground, F fired at the same time and I saw the other gunman fall,” he said. In later accounts, Soldier G speculated that he may have shot both men, and Soldier F shot a third.
Soldier H’s account included a claim of seeing a youth throw a nail bomb and firing 19 shots at a gun muzzle he saw at a window. He stated he was close to Soldiers F and G in Glenfada Park and saw F fire. The court also heard from retired engineer John McCourt, who described chaotic scenes in the area and said he was shot with a rubber bullet by a soldier despite not threatening him.
Soldier F is also accused of attempting to murder Michael Quinn, Patrick O’Donnell, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon and an unknown person. He sits behind a curtain in the courtroom during the trial, which began last month.
