In a Belfast courtroom thick with the weight of history and unresolved pain, the trial of the only British soldier ever charged in connection with the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre has reached a pivotal moment. On October 16, 2025, defense lawyer Mark Mulholland stood before Judge Patrick Lynch, urging him to acquit the man known only as Soldier F, arguing that the prosecution had failed to prove its case for murder and attempted murder. After a month of dramatic testimony and legal wrangling, the judge announced he would deliver his verdict on October 23.
Soldier F, whose identity remains protected due to fears of retaliation, is the lone British Army member to face charges over the deadly events of January 20, 1972. That day, British paratroopers opened fire on a civil rights march in Londonderry—also called Derry—killing 13 and wounding 15 more. The massacre became a symbol of the three-decade conflict known as The Troubles, a period that pitted mainly Catholic supporters of a united Ireland against predominantly Protestant unionists who wished to remain part of the United Kingdom.
Mulholland, in his closing argument, described the prosecution’s case as “fundamentally flawed and weak” and accused it of relying on evidence from “fabricators and liars,” according to reporting from the Associated Press. The defense rested without calling Soldier F to the stand or presenting any evidence, instead focusing on undermining the credibility of prosecution witnesses. Many of these witnesses, Mulholland argued, had given inconsistent statements over the years, while others had memories clouded by the chaos and trauma of that day.
Despite these arguments, Judge Lynch denied a request to dismiss the charges outright. The judge’s decision to proceed means that, more than five decades after the events, the question of accountability for Bloody Sunday remains very much alive. Soldier F has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder. The specific charges relate to the deaths of James Wray, 22, and William McKinney, 27, as well as the wounding of Joseph Friel, Michael Quinn, Joe Mahon, Patrick O’Donnell, and another unnamed civilian.
Throughout the trial, Soldier F has remained hidden from public view, shielded by a curtain in Belfast Crown Court. The secrecy underscores the continued volatility surrounding Bloody Sunday, an event that has never faded from the collective memory of Northern Ireland. While the 1998 Good Friday Agreement brought an end to most of the violence and established a power-sharing government, the wounds of the past are far from healed. Families of those killed have pressed for justice for years, while some supporters of army veterans argue that the sacrifices and losses of British soldiers have been unfairly downplayed and that they are now being scapegoated.
Prosecutor Louis Mably laid out a starkly different narrative before the court. According to Mably, Soldier F and his fellow paratroopers opened fire on unarmed civilians who were running away, not posing any threat. He argued that the soldiers “without justification, had all opened fire and intended to kill and shared responsibility for the casualties.” Mably further alleged that the troops later lied to cover up their roles, perpetuating a decades-long cover-up.
A key challenge for the prosecution was the nature of the evidence. Statements by fellow troops, identified in court only as Soldiers G and H, implicated Soldier F in the shootings. However, both witnesses presented problems: Soldier G is now dead, and Soldier H refused to testify. The defense argued that these hearsay statements should not be admitted, since neither man could be cross-examined. The judge ultimately allowed the evidence, but the controversy over its reliability hung over the proceedings.
The legal saga is rooted in a long history of conflicting official accounts. In the immediate aftermath of Bloody Sunday, the British government claimed that its soldiers had fired in self-defense after being attacked by gunmen and people throwing petrol bombs. A formal inquiry quickly cleared the troops of wrongdoing. But in 2010, a much more comprehensive review—known as the Saville Inquiry—concluded that British soldiers had fired at unarmed civilians who were fleeing or helping the wounded, and that they later lied to conceal their actions. Then-Prime Minister David Cameron addressed Parliament, stating unequivocally that the killings were “unjustified and unjustifiable.”
The findings of the 2010 review paved the way for the eventual prosecution of Soldier F, though it would take years of legal delays and setbacks before the case finally came to trial in 2025. The trial has attracted intense attention in Northern Ireland and beyond, with families of the victims and veterans’ groups alike watching closely for the outcome.
When interviewed by investigators in 2016, Soldier F declined to answer questions, stating that he had no “reliable recollection” of the events on Bloody Sunday but insisted he had “properly discharged” his duties as a soldier. This stance has remained consistent throughout the proceedings. The defense’s decision not to call him to the stand was widely viewed as a calculated move to avoid the risks of cross-examination, especially given the fraught and emotional nature of the case.
For the families of those killed and wounded, the trial has been a long time coming. Many have spent decades campaigning for justice, arguing that the truth was buried under official denials and misleading reports. The 2010 Saville Inquiry was a turning point, offering official acknowledgment of wrongdoing and an apology from the highest levels of government. Yet, for some, only a conviction would represent true justice.
On the other side, supporters of Soldier F and other army veterans argue that the prosecution is unfair and politically motivated. They point to the dangers faced by British troops during The Troubles and argue that the context of the conflict has been forgotten. For them, the trial is seen as an attempt to rewrite history and scapegoat individuals for decisions made in the heat of battle.
As the courtroom drama draws to a close, all eyes are on Judge Lynch, who must weigh the evidence and deliver a verdict that will resonate far beyond the walls of Belfast Crown Court. The outcome will not only determine the fate of Soldier F but will also shape the legacy of Bloody Sunday and the broader struggle for justice and reconciliation in Northern Ireland.
The verdict, expected on October 23, promises to be a defining moment for all those touched by the events of 1972. Whether it brings closure or rekindles old wounds, it will mark another chapter in the long and painful history of The Troubles—a period that, even now, refuses to be consigned to the past.