Editing Bloody Sunday (1972) (section)

==Murder charges==
Following the publication of the Saville Report, a murder investigation was begun by the [[Police Service of Northern Ireland]]'s Legacy Investigation Branch. On 10 November 2015, a 66-year-old former member of the Parachute Regiment, referred to as "Soldier J" in the Saville Report, was arrested for questioning over the deaths of William Nash, Michael McDaid and John Young. He was released on [[bail]] shortly after.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-34794691 |title=Bloody Sunday: Former British soldier released on bail |work=BBC News |date=11 November 2015 |access-date=17 April 2019 |archive-date=26 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426195838/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-34794691 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland]] announced in March 2019 that there was enough evidence to prosecute "Soldier F" for the murders of James Wray and William McKinney, both of whom were shot in the back. He was also charged with four [[attempted murder]]s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bloody Sunday: Soldier F faces murder charges |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-47540271 |website=BBC News |access-date=14 March 2019 |date=14 March 2019 |archive-date=14 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190314010835/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-47540271 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Bowcott |first=Owen |date=14 March 2019 |title=Bloody Sunday trial will test limits of justice in Northern Ireland |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/mar/14/bloody-sunday-trial-will-test-limits-justice-northern-ireland |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190314164001/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/mar/14/bloody-sunday-trial-will-test-limits-justice-northern-ireland |archive-date=14 March 2019 |access-date=14 March 2019 |website=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Bowcott |first=Owen |date=14 March 2019 |title=Prosecutors explain Bloody Sunday murder charges against 'Soldier F' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/mar/14/prosecutors-explain-bloody-sunday-charges-against-soldier-f |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190314164306/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/mar/14/prosecutors-explain-bloody-sunday-charges-against-soldier-f |archive-date=14 March 2019 |access-date=14 March 2019 |website=The Guardian}}</ref> The Saville Inquiry concluded, based on the evidence, that "Soldier F" also killed Michael Kelly, Patrick Doherty and Barney McGuigan, but evidence from the inquiry was inadmissible to the [[prosecution]] and "the only evidence capable of identifying the soldier who fired the relevant shots came from "Soldier F"'s co-accused, "Soldier G", who is deceased".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/why-soldier-f-will-be-charged-over-bloody-sunday-but-other-soldiers-will-not-be-1.3825921 |title=Why Soldier F will be charged over Bloody Sunday but other soldiers will not be |last=Moriarty |first=Gerry |location=Derry |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404122504/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/why-soldier-f-will-be-charged-over-bloody-sunday-but-other-soldiers-will-not-be-1.3825921 |archive-date=4 April 2019 |url-status=live |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |date=14 March 2019}}</ref>

Relatives of the Bloody Sunday victims expressed dismay that only one soldier would face trial for some of the killings.<ref>{{cite web |last=Bowcott |first=Owen |date=14 March 2019 |title='People were devastated': relatives of Bloody Sunday victims on the charge |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/mar/14/people-were-devastated-relatives-of-bloody-sunday-victims-on-the-charge |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190314195452/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/mar/14/people-were-devastated-relatives-of-bloody-sunday-victims-on-the-charge |archive-date=14 March 2019 |access-date=14 March 2019 |website=The Guardian}}</ref> In September 2020, it was ruled that there would be no charges against any other soldiers.<ref>{{cite web |first=Julian |last=O'Neill |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-54329803 |title=Bloody Sunday: No further charges against former soldiers |work=[[BBC News]] |date=29 September 2020 |access-date=29 September 2020 |archive-date=29 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929082224/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-54329803 |url-status=live}}</ref> The victims' relatives were supported by Irish nationalist political representatives. "Soldier F" received support from some Ulster loyalists<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-49355150 |title=Bloody Sunday Trust: Events at Londonderry parade a 'setback' |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709201210/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-49355150 |archive-date=9 July 2021 |url-status=live |work=BBC News |date=15 August 2019}}</ref> and from the group Justice for Northern Ireland Veterans.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-48321738 |title=Rallies held for British soldiers facing NI charges |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709185927/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-48321738 |archive-date=9 July 2021 |url-status=live |work=BBC News |date=18 May 2019}}</ref> The [[Democratic Unionist Party]] (DUP) called for former British soldiers to be given [[immunity from prosecution]]. [[Ulster Unionist Party]] (UUP) leader and former soldier, [[Doug Beattie]], said that if soldiers "went outside the law, then they have to face the law".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-56842062 |title=Troubles soldiers need legal protection says Sir Jeffrey Donaldson |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627211321/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-56842062 |archive-date=27 June 2021 |url-status=live |work=BBC News |date=22 April 2021}}</ref>

In July 2021, the Public Prosecution Service decided it would no longer prosecute "Soldier F" because statements from 1972 were deemed inadmissible as evidence.<ref name="Soldier F withdrawn"/> On 13 July 2021 [[Social Democratic and Labour Party]] MP [[Colum Eastwood]] revealed the name of "Soldier F" using [[parliamentary privilege]].<ref>{{cite news |last=McClafferty |first=Enda |author-link=Enda McClafferty |date=13 July 2021 |title=Bloody Sunday: Colum Eastwood names Soldier F in parliament |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-57825284 |url-status=live |access-date=1 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812113605/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-57825284 |archive-date=12 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-07-13/debates/CDF9AFDF-4BFA-4FA1-8481-B68CAF2DDB5F/ArmedForcesBil|title=Armed Forces Bill Volume 699: debated on Tuesday 13 July 2021|publisher=Hansard|date=13 July 2021|accessdate=13 June 2023}}</ref> On 17 July [[Village (magazine)|''Village'' magazine]] published the identity of "Soldier F" and some pictures of him at the time of the massacre.<ref>{{cite news |author=Burke |first=David |date=17 July 2021 |title=Soldier F, the heartless Bloody Sunday killer, is named |publisher=Village Magazine |url=https://villagemagazine.ie/soldier-f-the-cold-blooded-bloody-sunday-murderer-is-named/ |accessdate=13 June 2023}}</ref>

In March 2022, the High Court overturned the decision not to press charges against "Soldier F" following an appeal by the family of William McKinney and ordered the Public Prosecution Service to reconsider the case.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/mar/23/belfast-court-quashes-decision-to-stop-bloody-sunday-prosecution-of-soldier-f |title=Belfast court quashes decision to stop Bloody Sunday prosecution of Soldier F |website=The Guardian |last=O'Carroll |first=Lisa |date=March 23, 2022 |access-date=9 May 2022 |archive-date=9 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220509205749/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/mar/23/belfast-court-quashes-decision-to-stop-bloody-sunday-prosecution-of-soldier-f |url-status=live }}</ref> The PPS subsequently appealed the court's decision to the [[Supreme Court of the United Kingdom]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.derrydaily.net/2022/04/25/pps-may-appeal-decision-to-quash-dropping-of-soldier-f-trial/ |title=PPS May Appeal Decision To Quash Dropping of Soldier F Trial |website=Derry Daily |date=April 25, 2022 |access-date=9 May 2022 |archive-date=27 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927051440/https://www.derrydaily.net/2022/04/25/pps-may-appeal-decision-to-quash-dropping-of-soldier-f-trial/ |url-status=live }}</ref> but permission to appeal was refused that September and the PPS were forced to continue with the prosecution.<ref name=Young/> In October 2022, it was announced that the committal hearing against "Soldier F" would resume on 16 January 2023.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/evidence-against-soldier-f-over-bloody-sunday-murders-to-be-heard-in-january-1374075.html |title=Evidence against Soldier F over Bloody Sunday murders to be heard in January |last1=Black |first1=Rebecca |last2=Young |first2=David |publisher=Breakingnews.ie |date=7 October 2022 |access-date=7 October 2022 |archive-date=7 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007123238/https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/evidence-against-soldier-f-over-bloody-sunday-murders-to-be-heard-in-january-1374075.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On 24 January 2023 the case against "Soldier F" was resumed at Derry Magistrate's Court.<ref>{{cite news|title=Derry Court: Soldier F hearing resumes into Bloody Sunday murders|publisher=Derry Now|date=24 January 2023|url=https://www.derrynow.com/news/local-news/1018682/derry-court-soldier-f-hearing-resumes-into-bloody-sunday-murders.html}}</ref> Following an adjournment, the case resumed on 26 May 2023.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McDermott |first1=Eamonn |last2=McClements |first2=Freya |date=26 May 2023 |title=Prosecution of Soldier F for Bloody Sunday killings resumes |publisher=The Irish Times |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2023/05/26/prosecution-of-soldier-f-for-bloody-sunday-killings-resumes/}}</ref> On 25 August 2023 Judge Ted Magill ruled that five statements given to the Widgery Report implicating "Soldier F" could be used as evidence at trial.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-66614633.amp|title=Bloody Sunday: Soldier F 'has no reliable recollection' of shootings|website=BBC News|last=Wilson|first=David|date=25 August 2023}}</ref>

In December 2023, an evidentiary hearing was held to decide whether or not to proceed to trial. Judge Magill ruled that "Soldier F" should face trial at Belfast Crown Court.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-67679180|title=Bloody Sunday: Soldier F will face murder trial|website=BBC News|date=14 December 2023|first1=Gerry|first2=Mike|last1=Bradley|last2=McBride}}</ref> The soldier appeared in court for the first time on 14 June 2024.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czvv942520jo|title=Bloody Sunday accused Soldier F appears in court|first=Julian|last=O'Neill|date=14 June 2024|newspaper=BBC News}}</ref> In December 2024, "Soldier F" pleaded not guilty to two charges of murder and five of attempted murder after Judge Mr. Justice Fowler overruled attempts by the soldier's lawyers to have the case dismissed.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2024/1206/1485071-soldier-f-bloody-sunday-court/|title=Soldier F pleads not guilty to Bloody Sunday murders in return to trial|publisher=RTÉ News|date=6 December 2024|access-date=6 December 2024}}</ref> The trial has been scheduled to begin on 15 September 2025.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/ulster/2025/0328/1504636-bloody-sunday-trial/|title=Bloody Sunday murder trial set for 15 September|publisher=RTÉ News|date=28 March 2025|access-date=28 March 2025}}</ref>