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Bloody Sunday soldier to be charged with murder

  • 14-03-2019 11:24am
    #1
    Registered Users Posts: 27,564 ✭✭✭✭steddyeddy


    The infamous soldier F is to be charged with murder the BBC have revealed. Far too late in my opinion. Dealing with murderers by the legal system rather than promoting them and giving them medals would have prevented much of the troubles.
    A former British soldier faces murder charges over the killing of two people in Londonderry in 1972.

    The Public Prosecution Service said on Thursday there was enough evidence to prosecute Soldier F for the murders of James Wray and William McKinney.

    The soldier will also face charges for the attempted murders of Joseph Friel, Michael Quinn, Joe Mahon and Patrick O'Donnell.

    Thirteen people were shot dead at a civil rights march on 30 January 1972.

    The PPS said there was insufficient evidence to prosecute 16 other soldiers and two official IRA men.

    Testimony from the Saville inquiry if anyone's in doubt over this man's character:
    Then, while Doherty lay crying in agony, a 41-year-old man called Barney McGuigan stepped out from behind a block of flats to try to get help for the dying man. McGuigan was waving a white handkerchief. According to the testimony of numerous witnesses, including an officer from another regiment stationed on the city walls, soldier F — positioned on the other side of the road — got down on one knee and shot McGuigan through the head. No one who saw the mortuary photos of the exit wound in McGuigan’s face will forget what just that one bullet of soldier F’s did


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Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 23,370 ✭✭✭✭Kermit.de.frog


    Only one?


  • Posts: 13,712 ✭✭✭✭[Deleted User]


    I don't think I've ever fully appreciated the seriousness and the savagery of Bloody Sunday until I read Freya McClements in The Irish Times on Tuesday

    https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/bloody-sunday-decision-time-the-people-who-were-killed-have-nothing-1.3821985
    “This blond soldier, he had the rifle at his hip, and he fired, he sprayed with the gun. The next thing I was on the ground.”
    [...]

    He lay on the ground and watched as the soldier who had shot Jim Wray continued into nearby Abbey Park.
    “I could hear more shooting, and he came back out again and took his helmet off. I could see his face – he had blond hair. He shouted, ‘I’ve got another one’.

    “That’s when apparently he shot Gerard McKinney and Gerald Donaghey. I heard the bullet pass through one and into the other.”

    The soldier walked away. Mahon thought he was safe.

    “I turned my head up to look round at him and he saw me. He got down one knee and he took aim again at me.
    “I turned my head away to the fence, waiting for the shot.”
    Mahon’s life was saved when a member of the Knights of Malta shouted, “first aid”. The soldier fired but missed.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,706 ✭✭✭Waitsian


    I'm confused. Why isn't soldier F being charged with the death of Barney McGuigan? :/


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 12,653 ✭✭✭✭Plumbthedepths


    13 people murdered, only one out of 18 named paratroopers to be tried. British justice at its best. He'll probably die before he faces the dock.


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,138 ✭✭✭Uncharted


    Long overdue.

    An absolutely disgraceful event. Several more should now face the repercussions of their filthy actions.
    The hand of justice has almost withered to the bone over time.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 6,587 ✭✭✭Feisar


    People trained as aggressive front line soldiers acted like aggressive front line soldiers. Hard to blame the individuals, they people that thought it a good idea are at fault.

    If one has a hammer everything looks like a nail, soldiers have guns, what do you expect them to do, they are one trick ponies.

    First they came for the socialists...



  • Registered Users Posts: 32,802 ✭✭✭✭NIMAN


    Another whitewash.

    Give them one culprit, let the rest of scot free.

    Can't see how much murder went on that day and yet they can only find enough evidence to charge one.


  • Registered Users Posts: 32,802 ✭✭✭✭NIMAN


    Uncharted wrote: »
    Long overdue.

    An absolutely disgraceful event. Several more should now face the repercussions of their filthy actions.
    The hand of justice has almost withered to the bone over time.

    They won't though.

    Its this one and no more. A token to appease the families.


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,138 ✭✭✭Uncharted


    NIMAN wrote: »
    They won't though.

    Its this one and no more. A token to appease the families.

    Its sickening to know that you are almost certainly correct on that.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 12,653 ✭✭✭✭Plumbthedepths


    Feisar wrote:
    If one has a hammer everything looks like a nail, soldiers have guns, what do you expect them to do, they are one trick ponies.


    Yet the same soldiers knew enough to lie to the first enquiry, why do that if they thought they were right?


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  • Registered Users Posts: 32,802 ✭✭✭✭NIMAN




  • Registered Users Posts: 3,020 ✭✭✭Call me Al


    Feisar wrote: »
    People trained as aggressive front line soldiers acted like aggressive front line soldiers. Hard to blame the individuals, they people that thought it a good idea are at fault.

    If one has a hammer everything looks like a nail, soldiers have guns, what do you expect them to do, they are one trick ponies.

    They were trained soldiers on a civilian UK street.
    I fully blame each and every one of them for every innocent life they quenched that day. They are murderers pure and simple, no better and maybe even worse than the people they were charged to eliminate and I hope that fact haunts each and every one of them, until the day they die.


  • Registered Users Posts: 10,288 ✭✭✭✭branie2


    About time


  • Registered Users Posts: 179 ✭✭Samuel Vimes


    British Justice?
    The Ministry of Defence has announced that it pay all his legal bills UK Defence Minister Gavin Williamson said ""We are indebted to those soldiers who served with courage and distinction to bring peace to Northern Ireland"
    https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-47540271


  • Registered Users Posts: 32,802 ✭✭✭✭NIMAN


    And James McClean gets stick for NOT wearing a poppy and donating to this shower?

    You gotta laugh at those who attack him.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,860 ✭✭✭Mrsmum


    To my way of thinking one is the very minimum they could do.


  • Moderators, Regional Midwest Moderators Posts: 11,034 Mod ✭✭✭✭MarkR


    If this happened in some warzone in the middle east, there would be a investigation into war crimes. Why is it Britain that is investigating this, rather than an outside agency? I suppose it's been looked at, and rejected previously?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,482 ✭✭✭Gimme A Pound


    Feisar wrote: »
    People trained as aggressive front line soldiers acted like aggressive front line soldiers. Hard to blame the individuals, they people that thought it a good idea are at fault.

    If one has a hammer everything looks like a nail, soldiers have guns, what do you expect them to do
    Not to shoot innocent civilians?

    I agree though, they who ordered it have more blood on their hands imo.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,288 ✭✭✭Wheres Me Jumper?


    this is indeed welcome news, and is a vindication of the thoroughness of British justice even after all these years.
    hopefully this will help draw a line under the events of that terrible day, and people on this island can move on with their lives.


  • Registered Users Posts: 32,802 ✭✭✭✭NIMAN


    It was a slaughter of innocent people, many shot from behind, in the back, or when waving white hankies.

    Brave brave soldiers indeed. The heroes of the British Army.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 179 ✭✭Samuel Vimes


    MarkR wrote: »
    If this happened in some warzone in the middle east, there would be a investigation into war crimes. Why is it Britain that is investigating this, rather than an outside agency? I suppose it's been looked at, and rejected previously?


    No

    Israel and the USA would ensure, as is their practice that no war crimes investigations take place.


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,138 ✭✭✭Uncharted


    Feisar wrote: »
    People trained as aggressive front line soldiers acted like aggressive front line soldiers. Hard to blame the individuals, they people that thought it a good idea are at fault.

    If one has a hammer everything looks like a nail, soldiers have guns, what do you expect them to do, they are one trick ponies.

    Apologist tripe.


    Hang your head in shame.


  • Registered Users Posts: 32,802 ✭✭✭✭NIMAN


    MarkR wrote: »
    If this happened in some warzone in the middle east, there would be a investigation into war crimes. Why is it Britain that is investigating this, rather than an outside agency? I suppose it's been looked at, and rejected previously?

    What would have happened is this had happened on the streets of London, Manchester or Liverpool?

    Thats what you should be comparing to.


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,745 ✭✭✭Deebles McBeebles


    NIMAN wrote: »
    What would have happened is this had happening on the streets of London, Manchester or Liverpool?

    Thats what you should be comparing to.

    Is it not? From what I hear all the time, London is under Sharia law and everyone gets stabbed every day.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,860 ✭✭✭Mrsmum


    NIMAN wrote: »
    What would have happened is this had happening on the streets of London, Manchester or Liverpool?

    Thats what you should be comparing to.


    It certainly wouldn't have taken nearly fifty years to get just one soldier charged. And no one would be making all sorts of excuses for their actions.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,482 ✭✭✭Gimme A Pound


    Uncharted wrote: »
    Apologist tripe.


    Hang your head in shame.
    Ah no in fairness they aren't wrong about those who ordered it being more to blame.

    When it comes to apologist tripe, downplaying, dismissal and whataboutery, you ain't seen nothing yet. Prepare for the Irish forelock tuggers and the English man in denial!


  • Posts: 0 Jon Hissing Pope


    Mrsmum wrote: »
    It certainly wouldn't have taken nearly fifty years to get just one soldier charged. And no one would be making all sorts of excuses for their actions.

    It was state-sanctioned murder, so too many higher up could be implicated.


  • Registered Users Posts: 19,802 ✭✭✭✭suicide_circus


    can he be named once a criminal trial starts?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,288 ✭✭✭Wheres Me Jumper?


    It was state-sanctioned murder, so too many higher up could be implicated.

    i wonder how far it actually goes up?
    i doubt we'll ever know.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 6,587 ✭✭✭Feisar


    Uncharted wrote: »
    Apologist tripe.


    Hang your head in shame.

    Where did I apologize?

    First they came for the socialists...



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