Soldier F Found Not Guilty of Bloody Sunday Murders

A former paratrooper, known only as Soldier F, has been found not guilty at Belfast Crown Court of committing two murders and five attempted murders during the events of Bloody Sunday in Londonderry, 1972.

The verdict marks a significant development in one of Northern Ireland’s most infamous historical cases. Soldier F had been accused of shooting unarmed civil rights protesters when members of the Parachute Regiment opened fire during a demonstration in the Bogside area of Derry on 30 January 1972.

The shootings resulted in the deaths of 13 people on the day, with a 14th person dying later from injuries. The events became a defining and deeply controversial moment of the Troubles, sparking international outrage and decades of calls for justice.

The decision to prosecute Soldier F came after the Saville Inquiry, which concluded that the victims were innocent and that the killings were “unjustified and unjustifiable.” However, after years of legal proceedings and evidence challenges, the case against the veteran collapsed, leading to today’s not guilty verdict.

Families of those killed and injured have long campaigned for accountability. Reactions to the ruling are expected from both campaigners and political leaders across Northern Ireland.