For more than five decades, families of the victims of Northern Ireland’s Bloody Sunday have pursued justice without a single conviction. On January 30, 1972, British paratroopers opened fire during a civil rights march in Londonderry, killing 13 unarmed demonstrators and wounding 15 others.

That long fight reached a turning point Monday as a former paratrooper, known only as “Soldier F", went on trial in Belfast. He faces two murder charges and five counts of attempted murder, making him the sole defendant in the bloodiest single day of the three-decade conflict known as The Troubles. Hidden from public view by a floor-to-ceiling curtain, Soldier F appeared in court under heavy protection.

The events of Bloody Sunday were initially framed by the government as soldiers responding to gunmen and bombers. An early inquiry cleared the regiment. But a sweeping review published in 2010 reversed that narrative, concluding that the victims were unarmed civilians shot while fleeing and that soldiers then covered up their actions.

Then-Prime Minister David Cameron issued a historic apology, calling the killings “unjustified and unjustifiable.” The findings paved the way for prosecution, though the legal process has been fraught with setbacks.

Tortuous legal journey

Seven years after police began investigating, prosecutors in 2019 announced that only Soldier F would face charges, citing insufficient evidence against 16 other soldiers and two suspected IRA members. In 2021, the case was dropped after another court ruling rendered key evidence inadmissible.

But the families pressed on. Following an appeal by relatives of one victim, the Public Prosecution Service reinstated the case, allowing Monday’s trial to proceed.

For relatives, the trial marks the culmination of a relentless campaign. Tony Doherty, whose father Patrick was among those killed, reflected on their goals: recognition of the victims’ innocence, rejection of the initial inquiry, and prosecutions.

“The first two demands have been met, and when a British soldier stands in the dock on Monday and faces charges of multiple murder and attempted murder, we will see the third demand met, although we will always believe there should be many more on trial for Bloody Sunday,” Doherty said. “We have waited 53 long years for justice and, hopefully, we will see a measure of it through this trial.”

Soldier F has pleaded not guilty to the murders of James Wray and William McKinney and the attempted murders of Joseph Friel, Michael Quinn, Joe Mahon, Patrick O’Donnell, and another unidentified individual.

Lingering divisions

Even a quarter-century after the Good Friday Agreement ended large-scale violence, Bloody Sunday remains a source of tension. Victims’ families continue to demand accountability, while veterans’ advocates argue that former soldiers are being unfairly targeted decades after their service.

The Ministry of Defense has pledged to support Soldier F legally while also reviewing how historic allegations are handled.

For others, the case carries broader symbolism. Derry councilor Shaun Harkin of People Before Profit argued, “The British government has sought to protect its parachute regiment killers for decades through lies, cover-up, delay, and evasion. Soldier F pulled the trigger on Bloody Sunday and should be held to account, but the British government and top military brass who gave the orders should be held to account too.”

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