Bloody Sunday: Politicians react to Soldier F acquittal

Local politicians have reacted to the acquittal of Soldier F today.

The former paratrooper known was found not guilty of committing two murders and five attempted murders on Bloody Sunday.

Soldier F had been accused of the murders of James Wray and William McKinney on Bloody Sunday, regarded as one of the darkest days of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

The veteran had also been accused of attempting to murder Michael Quinn, Patrick O’Donnell, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon and an unknown person.

Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said today was a "difficult" day for the Bloody Sunday families.

The former SDLP leader said: "My thoughts are with the Bloody Sunday families and the wounded today. They have been through a long and challenging ordeal and I can’t imagine how they’re feeling but I know that they are as committed to justice for their loved ones as ever.

"It’s impossible to put into words how proud we are of the Bloody Sunday families. People in Derry, across Ireland, Britain and the world have supported their campaign for truth, justice and accountability for decades. We know that the fight for justice is long and that there will be barriers along the way.

"For more than fifty years, these families have taken on a system that first sought to deny the truth and then tried to run out the clock, desperately hoping that their fight would dim and their campaign would die.

“For the best part of half a century Soldier F has been a protected species. Able and enabled to go about his life while his actions subjected good, innocent people in Derry to decades of generational heartache and hurt. I would encourage everyone to read the report of Lord Saville. These soldiers came to our city, they shot and killed civil rights protestors.

“Today is a difficult day but we’re holding the families close and I know that the people of Derry will continue to give them our utmost support.”

Delivering his judgment at Belfast Crown Court, Judge Patrick Lynch said the evidence presented against the veteran fell “well short” of what was required for conviction.

However, the judge said that members of the Parachute Regiment had shot dead unarmed civilians, and those involved should “hang their heads in shame”.

Sinn Féin MLA Padraig Delargy expressed huge disappointment following the decision not to convict Soldier F of murder.

Speaking from outside the court, the Foyle MLA said: “Today’s decision is deeply disappointing for the Bloody Sunday families and the people of Derry.

“It represents one of the most extreme examples of ‘justice delayed is justice denied’ in our history.

“For more than 53 years, the Bloody Sunday families have fought courageously and relentlessly in pursuit of truth and justice. Every bit of progress they have made has been a result of their tenacity and resilience.

“It took decades for the British state to finally admit what it did on Bloody Sunday, yet still, in 2025, not a single British combatant has been convicted for the shameful role played.

“This case is an indictment of justice when it comes to families who had loved ones murdered by the British state. Too many families are still without truth and accountability.

“While this is a setback in their campaign for truth and justice, Sinn Féin will fully support whatever steps they decide to take next and we will continue to stand with the families.”

In the packed public gallery at court 12, gathered relatives of the Bloody Sunday victims gave no visible response as the veteran was found not guilty on all counts.

There was also no reaction from those in the public gallery supporting the former paratrooper.

Meanwhile, DUP leader Gavin Robinson has said the majority of those in the armed forces who served in Northern Ireland during the Troubles did so with “honour”.

Mr Robinson was reacting after veteran Soldier F was acquitted of all charges relating to two murders and five attempted murders.

He said: “This was a detailed verdict from the judge which will obviously need to be studied in detail, but it represents a clear and welcome outcome.

“This has been an extremely lengthy process however and will have reopened many painful memories. The events of 30th January 1972 have been scrutinised and pored over more than any other single event in our history.

“The judge has cast doubt on evidence previously described as ‘decisive’ and highlights the difficulties inherent in taking forward a prosecution based on such problematic grounds.

“The vast majority of those who served in our armed forces did so with honour and often at great personal cost. There must be no rewriting of the past and we will continue to guard against all attempts to do so.”