The only British soldier charged with his part in the ‘Bloody Sunday’ massacre in 1972 is not on trial. The relatives of the victims have been told this by the British justice. There is not enough evidence to prosecute him.
On January 30, 1972, British soldiers opened fire on unarmed protesters in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, demonstrating for greater civil rights. Fourteen Catholic boys and men were killed. Those events have gone down in history as Bloody Sunday.
In 2010, a British investigative report from Judge Mark Saville concluded that the deaths of the 14 were “unjust and indefensible”. Some victims were shot while fleeing, others while trying to provide aid to seriously injured.
Then Prime Minister Cameron apologized on behalf of the British House of Commons. The question was then also raised whether British soldiers responsible for the massacre should be prosecuted.
Justice
In 2019, 16 soldiers were determined to have insufficient evidence to prosecute them. A 17th soldier, who was called Private F, was charged: He was suspected of two murders and attempted murder of five others. After further investigation, the public prosecutor has now decided that this soldier does not have to stand trial either, because there is not enough evidence.
Lawyers for the next of kin have immediately announced that they will ask for a review of that decision. A brother of one of the victims says this decision does not exonerate Private F. “The whole world knows what he has done. We will find a way to get justice.”
Bloody Sunday took place during The Troubles, the description for the Northern Ireland Civil War that lasted well into the 1990s. It pitted Catholics, who resisted British rule and sought affiliation with Ireland, against Protestants who wanted to maintain ties with Britain. The conflict in Northern Ireland was settled in 1998 with the signing of the Good Friday Agreement.
Bloody Sunday became known to many young people by the song Sunday Bloody Sunday by U2 from 1983, which became a worldwide hit. In 2002, a film about the massacre of director Paul Greengrass was released.
–
