LONDON (AP) — The struggle for justice by the families of the victims and survivors of the 1972 Bloody Sunday incident, where British soldiers shot dead 13 unarmed civil rights marchers and injured 15 others in Northern Ireland, has entered its fifth decade without a single individual being held accountable in court. This situation is poised to change as a former British soldier prepares to stand trial on Monday for murder and attempted murder related to the events of that day.
The ex-paratrooper, known only as "Soldier F," is the sole defendant in what is regarded as the deadliest shooting incident during the turbulent period known as "The Troubles." During the tragedy on January 30, 1972, in Londonderry, tensions reached a boiling point as the conflict between primarily Catholic advocates for a united Ireland and predominantly Protestant supporters of remaining in the United Kingdom came to the forefront. While the 1998 Good Friday peace accord has helped ease these tensions by establishing a framework for power-sharing between Republican and Unionist parties, the wounds from Bloody Sunday nonetheless remain deep.
The journey towards this nonjury trial at Belfast Crown Court has been riddled with obstacles for the victims' families. Initially, the government claimed that soldiers from a parachute regiment were responding to gunfire from attackers. A formal inquiry exonerated the troops, but a more in-depth review in 2010 reached a starkly different conclusion, stating that the soldiers had opened fire on unarmed individuals who were attempting to flee and had misled investigators for decades. Following this determination, then-Prime Minister David Cameron issued an apology, characterizing the killings as "unjustified and unjustifiable."
The findings set the stage for the eventual prosecution of Soldier F, a process that has been fraught with delays. After seven years of police investigation, prosecutors announced in 2019 that they would only charge Soldier F, citing insufficient evidence against 16 other former soldiers and two members of the Official Irish Republican Army who were also involved in the inquiry. In 2021, the Public Prosecution Service dropped the case due to doubts over the likelihood of securing a conviction, particularly following a judge’s dismissal of evidence against two soldiers in a separate case. Nonetheless, the families of Bloody Sunday victims continued their pursuit of justice, appealing the decision, which led to the reinstatement of charges against Soldier F.
Tony Doherty, whose father Patrick was killed during the incident, articulated the family’s long-standing campaign that commenced in 1992, calling for a formal declaration of innocence for the deceased and injured, a rejection of the initial inquiry’s findings, and accountability for those responsible. Doherty remarked on the significance of Soldier F facing charges in court, expressing a mix of relief and dissatisfaction that, while some justice may be served, many others involved in the events remain unprosecuted.
Facing two counts of murder for the deaths of James Wray and William McKinney, and multiple counts of attempted murder related to the injuries of five individuals, Soldier F has pleaded not guilty. Even after 25 years since the signing of the peace agreement, the repercussions of Bloody Sunday continue to be a contentious issue in Northern Ireland. The victims' families persist in their demand for justice, while army veterans express concerns about ongoing investigations regarding their past actions during "The Troubles."
Britain’s Ministry of Defense has committed to defending Soldier F while simultaneously seeking to reform the mechanisms used to investigate allegations against military personnel from that era. Derry Councilor Shaun Harkin from the People Before Profit party emphasized that this trial represents a broader examination of the British state's role and responsibility in the events of Bloody Sunday, insisting that both Soldier F and higher authorities within the military should face accountability for their actions.
