Latest news with #WilliamMcKinney
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
British soldier's trial over Bloody Sunday killings to start in September
By Amanda Ferguson BELFAST (Reuters) - The sole British soldier charged with murder over the 1972 'Bloody Sunday' killings of 13 unarmed Catholic civil rights marchers in Northern Ireland will face trial in September, a court heard on Friday. Bloody Sunday became one of the defining moments of the Troubles, three decades of sectarian violence involving nationalists seeking a united Ireland, unionists wanting to remain part of the United Kingdom, and British forces. The Parachute Regiment soldier, who cannot be identified and is known as Soldier F, is accused of murdering William McKinney and James Wray, when members of the British army regiment shot dead 13 civil rights protesters on the streets of Londonderry on January 30, 1972. The British government apologised in 2010 for the "unjustified and unjustifiable" killings of the peaceful protesters. Soldier F has already pleaded not guilty to a total of seven charges he faces, including five of attempted murder, in connection with the incidents over 53 years ago. Judge Justice Fowler told a court in Londonderry that the trial would start on Sep. 15. Soldier F was not required to be in court for the proceedings. "We welcome that a trial date has now been set. Let's get on with it," William McKinney's brother Mickey McKinney told Reuters. "For us it's important at least one soldier is into court". The case will be mentioned again in court on April 11.
Reuters
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
British soldier's trial over Bloody Sunday killings to start in September
BELFAST, March 28 (Reuters) - The sole British soldier charged with murder over the 1972 'Bloody Sunday' killings of 13 unarmed Catholic civil rights marchers in Northern Ireland will face trial in September, a court heard on Friday. Bloody Sunday became one of the defining moments of the Troubles, three decades of sectarian violence involving nationalists seeking a united Ireland, unionists wanting to remain part of the United Kingdom, and British forces. The Parachute Regiment soldier, who cannot be identified and is known as Soldier F, is accused of murdering William McKinney and James Wray, when members of the British army regiment shot dead 13 civil rights protesters on the streets of Londonderry on January 30, 1972. The British government apologised in 2010 for the "unjustified and unjustifiable" killings of the peaceful protesters. Soldier F has already pleaded not guilty to a total of seven charges he faces, including five of attempted murder, in connection with the incidents over 53 years ago. Judge Justice Fowler told a court in Londonderry that the trial would start on Sep. 15. Soldier F was not required to be in court for the proceedings. "We welcome that a trial date has now been set. Let's get on with it," William McKinney's brother Mickey McKinney told Reuters. "For us it's important at least one soldier is into court". The case will be mentioned again in court on April 11.
The Independent
18-02-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Soldier F Bloody Sunday murders trial likely to be listed for September
The trial of a former paratrooper accused of the murder of two men on Bloody Sunday is likely to be listed to start in September. Soldier F, who cannot be identified, is accused of murdering James Wray and William McKinney when members of the Parachute Regiment shot dead 13 civil rights protesters on the streets of Londonderry in January 1972. He is also charged with five attempted murders. He has pleaded not guilty to each of the seven counts. The case was mentioned briefly at Belfast Crown Court on Tuesday morning before judge Mr Justice Fowler. Soldier F appeared remotely via videolink. Relatives of Mr McKinney watched on from the public gallery. The court heard that a separate judge is to be appointed in the next few days to look at issues around the disclosure of material for the trial. Mr Justice Fowler said he wants to review progress around disclosure in four weeks' time before setting a date for the trial. He told the court he intends to list the trial for September, adding that 'the question is the date'. The case is next set to be mentioned on March 18.
