Verdict demonstrates necessity of Troubles trials

It is undisputed that members of the Parachute regiment shot dead 13 unarmed civil rights protesters in Derry on Bloody Sunday.

- Dan Sabbagh

But, over 53 years later, it is not surprising that Soldier F, the only man put on trial for murder, was found not guilty.

Though four of the Paras who entered Glenfada Park North “lost all sense of military discipline”, according to Mr Justice Lynch, direct evidence against Soldier F fell “well short” of “the high standard of proof required”.

The case against Soldier F, who offered no evidence of his own, were statements made in the early 1970s on the events of the day by two Paras who were on the scene, Soldiers G and H. Other evidence from civilians present, though contextually important, did not, Lynch said, “directly implicate F”.

But while the other two described firing shots themselves (in evidence that was for legal reasons inadmissible against their makers), their evidence against Soldier F could not be considered reliable, Lynch concluded.