A British judge has acquitted the sole soldier prosecuted in connection with the 1972 Bloody Sunday incident, an event in which 13 unarmed civil rights protesters were killed. The verdict was delivered after more than five decades, concluding the only prosecution stemming from the incident.

Story Highlights

• Soldier F acquitted of two murder counts and five attempted murder charges.
• The judge cited insufficient evidence for conviction after 53 years, noting unreliable witnesses and fading memories.
• Acquittal marks the end of the only prosecution related to Bloody Sunday.
• Victims’ families expressed disappointment following the verdict.

Judge Cites Evidence Gaps in Historic Case

Judge Patrick Lynch delivered the acquittal on October 23, 2025, acknowledging the conduct of British paratroopers on the day of the incident while emphasizing the legal requirement for sufficient evidence to secure a conviction. The former paratrooper, identified as Soldier F, faced charges for the deaths of James Wray and William McKinney during the January 30, 1972, events in Derry. Lynch noted a loss of military discipline but ruled that the prosecution did not meet the burden of proof for criminal proceedings.

Former paratrooper Soldier F has been found not guilty of two murders and five attempted murders on Bloody Sunday, 1972.

Judge said evidence fell “well short” of conviction but added soldiers who shot civilians should “hang their heads in shame.”#BloodySunday #NorthernIreland… pic.twitter.com/j2hN7kfLio

— Radio News Hub (@radionewshub) October 23, 2025

Defense Successfully Challenges Witness Reliability

Defense lawyer Mark Mulholland successfully argued that the prosecution’s case relied on witnesses whose reliability was compromised by the passage of more than five decades. The defense highlighted the inherent difficulties in prosecuting historical cases where evidence has deteriorated over time. Mulholland also questioned the decision to bring charges decades after the incident, suggesting that fair trial standards had been affected by the elapsed time and the deaths of potential witnesses.

Bloody Sunday’s Legacy and Inquiries

The 1972 incident occurred when British paratroopers opened fire on civil rights demonstrators, resulting in 13 fatalities and at least 15 injuries. An initial government inquiry largely exonerated the soldiers, stating they acted in self-defense. This narrative was challenged by the Saville Inquiry, launched in 1998, which concluded that the killings were unjustified and revealed a systematic cover-up lasting nearly four decades.

Families Respond as Accountability Remains Elusive

Families of the victims expressed profound disappointment following the acquittal, viewing it as a further denial of justice after their extensive campaign. The verdict represents a significant setback for relatives who endured the initial cover-up, sought truth through the Saville Inquiry, and witnessed an apology from Prime Minister David Cameron in 2010. With Soldier F’s acquittal, no individual will be held criminally accountable for the incident.

Watch the report: Paratrooper known as ‘Soldier F’ not guilty of Bloody Sunday

Sources:

British ex-soldier acquitted of murder in 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre in Northern Ireland – Euronews
British ex-soldier pleads not guilty to Bloody Sunday killings – RFI
Former British soldier to face murder trial for Bloody Sunday killings – Democracy News Live
British soldier pleads not guilty to Bloody Sunday murders – ABC News