Bloody Sunday soldier found not guilty of murders

"Delivering his judgment at Belfast Crown Court on Thursday, Judge Patrick Lynch said the evidence presented against the veteran referred to in court as Soldier F fell well short of what was required for conviction. Soldier F had been accused of the murders of James Wray and William McKinney on Bloody Sunday, regarded as one of the darkest days of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The veteran had also been accused of attempting to murder Michael Quinn, Patrick O'Donnell, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon and an unknown person."

"In his judgment, Judge Lynch said there was no concept of collective guilt in the courts. He said the crown had failed to establish that Soldier F was knowingly and intentionally assisting in the shootings, with intent to kill, or was shooting himself with that intention. He said the sole evidence against Soldier F was provided by two other veterans, Soldiers G and H, and that there were difficulties in relying on it."

Soldier F was found not guilty of two murders and five attempted murders arising from the Bloody Sunday shootings in Derry in 1972. Judge Patrick Lynch concluded the prosecution evidence did not meet the required standard for conviction. The charges included the murders of James Wray and William McKinney and attempted murders of Michael Quinn, Patrick O'Donnell, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon and an unidentified person. The non-jury trial lasted four weeks and included statements from two other veterans, Soldiers G and H. The judge said delay hindered testing hearsay statements and rejected any concept of collective guilt.

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