Bloody Sunday soldier to be charged with murder

Junkyard Tom · 14-03-2019 4:08pm

Spook_ie wrote: »

And presumably released under the GFA?

I'd imagine so.

vicwatson · 14-03-2019 4:09pm

Immortal Starlight wrote: »

It's an absolute insult to the 13 people who died and their families to only find 1 soldier did wrong that day. Some of them were only 17 years old. They deserve more than this. This is not justice.

14

Wheres Me Jumper? · 14-03-2019 4:20pm

did anybody see the BBC Newsnight interview with the then para commander Derek Wilford?

Would he apologise to the families of the victims? "I said that at the time and I've said it subsequently, he replied. "I see no point in repeating it because whatever I say will be discounted."

I finally asked what Bloody Sunday had done to him.

"I think it destroyed my world," he sighed.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-47559123

partyguinness · 14-03-2019 4:26pm

riffmongous wrote: »

As far as I am aware, the GFA was for early release, not an amnesty for crimes that were never prosecuted. Since there were never any British soldiers prosecuted, it doesn't apply to them

That is an important distinction that apologists for the British Army forget (conveniently or just do not understand).

The fundamental difference is that members of IRA, UVF et al were caught, prosecuted, served time and were then released.

To this day paras from both sides are still apprehended, prosecuted, sentenced but then pretty much released straight away under the GFA.

As you say, no British soldier was ever put through due process in the first instance.

Odhinn · 14-03-2019 4:31pm

baldbear wrote: »

Soldier F is an absolute scumbag. The families in Derry are so dignified. "Justice for one is justice for all"

Have a read of this article

https://www.spectator.co.uk/2019/03/the-case-for-prosecuting-bloody-sunday-soldier-f/

He may well be, but that was part of his job description. They (the British government ) sent in the paras to brutalise the population and quash dissent and resistance. They did nothing in the north that was in anyway unique, they just happened to do it in the glare of modern media.

Immortal Starlight · 14-03-2019 4:32pm

vicwatson wrote: »

14

Yes of course John Johnston RIP was as much a victim of Bloody Sunday as the rest of the people killed on the day.

FrancieBrady · 14-03-2019 4:40pm

We already know via Widgery, The Birmingham Six and many other instances that British courts are controlled by the establishment which is morally bankrupt.

The surprise here is that people are surprised that it is taking so long for the British to own up to what they did.

To the people of Derry the will to fight on.

Junkyard Tom · 14-03-2019 4:44pm

partyguinness wrote: »

That is an important distinction that apologists for the British Army forget (conveniently or just do not understand).

The fundamental difference is that members of IRA, UVF et al were caught, prosecuted, served time and were then released..

Also, unlike for those murdered by paramilitaries, the families of those killed by the British Army suffered the stigma of having their loved-ones described as nail-bombers and shooters. When the soldiers were found innocent it automatically laid the blame with those they killed.

Timberrrrrrrr · 14-03-2019 4:49pm

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

Also, unlike for those murdered by paramilitaries, the families of those killed by the British Army suffered the stigma of having their murdered loved-ones described as nail-bombers and shooters. When the soldiers were found innocent it automatically laid the blame with those they killed.

I know what you mean

zapitastas wrote: »

The parachute regiment are full of the dregs of British society. Absolutely sick psychopaths

Anywho, hopefully the victims if that horrible day will see justice served, pity it's not more of them on trial for what happened that day.

lawred2 · 14-03-2019 4:49pm

But they were only following orders...

yada yada yada

I don't believe in hell - but I'd love there to be one for these animals. And I hope they scream for eternity.

Bloody Sunday is only a footnote in the list of barbarism inflicted on the world by British armed forces.

lawred2 · 14-03-2019 4:50pm

partyguinness wrote: »

There will just be massive campaign to counter this with the old boys network clubbing together to paint him as a poor distressed soldier in an impossible situation doing his best with all sorts of pressure from the upper echelons of British society blah blah blah

Akin the SAS guy in Afghanistan who blatantly went up to a dying Afghani on the ground and shot him point blank in the chest. He even acknowledged what he was about to do was in violation of the Geneva Convention.

he'll probably get fêted on mass murder (sic. poppy) day

arybvtcw0eolkf · 14-03-2019 4:50pm

Beats me how they've only charged one soldier.

Unless the records of personal weapons issued to the soldiers on bloody sunday were destroyed it should have been the easiest thing in the world to trace bullets to a soldiers personal weapon.

That's providing of course that bullets remained in bodies. The weapons used on the day were the L1A1 SLR, it fired a 7.62mm round. At close range I'd imagine a lot passed through and exited the victims but enough should have been removed from victims to trace by more than one weapon.

Each weapon is a personal issue, signed for by the soldier.

Soldier F must be pushing 70 years old, even if he's found guilty and convicted of murder he's lived the vast majority of his life as a free man.

The people of Derry will never receive justice for bloody Sunday.

Odhinn · 14-03-2019 4:55pm

Nicholas Thoughtless Searchlight wrote: »

Beats me how they've only charged one soldier.

Unless the records of personal weapons issued to the soldiers on bloody sunday were destroyed it should have been the easiest thing in the world to trace bullets to a soldiers personal weapon.

That's providing of course that bullets remained in bodies. The weapons used on the day were the L1A1 SLR, it fired a 7.62mm round. At close range I'd imagine a lot passed through and exited the victims but enough should have been removed from victims to trace by more than one weapon.

Each weapon is a personal issue, signed for by the soldier.

Soldier F must be pushing 70 years old, even if he's found guilty and convicted of murder he's lived the vast majority of his life as a free man.

The people of Derry will never receive justice for bloody Sunday.

No, they probably won't.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/destruction-of-two-bloody-sunday-guns-criticised-1.246791

partyguinness · 14-03-2019 5:03pm

Nicholas Thoughtless Searchlight wrote: »

Beats me how they've only charged one soldier.

I imagine it is because he was so shamefully blatant that even the powers that be could not brush this one under the carpet.

partyguinness · 14-03-2019 5:08pm

RasTa wrote: »

I would take great pleasure in watching this man being skinned alive

Now now there is no need for that type of talk. We are better than that.

arybvtcw0eolkf · 14-03-2019 5:08pm

Odhinn wrote: »

No, they probably won't.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/destruction-of-two-bloody-sunday-guns-criticised-1.246791

That's crazy.

Cock up or cover up its madness and ads fuel to the fire of cover ups.

Knowing from my own experience how weapons are controlled, how they're accounted for, what happens (even to obsolete weapons) when they leave the armoury I 'tend to think there's something sinister at play here.

Like I said the people of Derry won't receive Justice here no more than the people of Argentina will receive justice, or even a decent enquiry into allegations that the Parachute Regiment commited war crimes when they murdered Argentine POW's

partyguinness · 14-03-2019 5:11pm

Nicholas Thoughtless Searchlight wrote: »

Knowing from my own experience how weapons are controlled, how they're accounted for, what happens (even to obsolete weapons) when they leave the armoury I 'tend to think there's something sinister at play here.

No **** Sherlock...:p

I suppose any chance anyone has seen the results of the investigation with the 'independent observer'.

Wheres Me Jumper? · 14-03-2019 5:16pm

if this had happened in any other country during any period of conflict, then this would have been buried and never seen the light of day.

Laois_Man · 14-03-2019 5:19pm

Soldier Dave F is probably in his 70's now - possibly more. I have no doubt that the start of his trial will be delayed and delayed until the ****er is dead. It already being 16 years since Dave testified at the inquiry presided over by Mark Saville is evidence of that, if evidence were needed - It might as well have been an inquiry presided over by Jimmy Savile!

steddyeddy · 14-03-2019 5:36pm

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

Also, unlike for those murdered by paramilitaries, the families of those killed by the British Army suffered the stigma of having their loved-ones described as nail-bombers and shooters. When the soldiers were found innocent it automatically laid the blame with those they killed.

That's an extremely good point. In all of these conversations about Bloody Sunday there's always a substantial proportion of the British populace convinced the protesters must have deserved it. Can you imagine Irish people questioning whether British people deserved to be killed by the IRA? I think we're far more civilised about it.

FrancieBrady · 14-03-2019 5:39pm

Perifectamania wrote: »

The PIRA blew 18 members of the parachute regiment to bits in Warrenpoint and slaughtered over 1,000 of the British armed forces. It's hard to have sympathy for them when you read the things they did including on Bloody Sunday.

Nobody is asking you to 'have sympathy for the IRA'.

Crock Rock · 14-03-2019 5:41pm

Queen betty should have to answer why it gave bravery medals to the paratroopers. Hopefully it'll be dead soon too. (Bye it I mean betty).

Edgware · 14-03-2019 6:11pm

Laois_Man wrote: »

Soldier Dave F is probably in his 70's now - possibly more. I have no doubt that the start of his trial will be delayed and delayed until the ****er is dead. It already being 16 years since Dave testified at the inquiry presided over by Mark Saville is evidence of that, if evidence were needed - It might as well have been an inquiry presided over by Jimmy Savile!

Soldier Fs legal team will drag this out, demanding a trial in England and end up using the Ivor Bell defence of dementia, unfit to plead etc.

Edgware · 14-03-2019 6:15pm

Nicholas Thoughtless Searchlight wrote: »

Beats me how they've only charged one soldier.

Unless the records of personal weapons issued to the soldiers on bloody sunday were destroyed it should have been the easiest thing in the world to trace bullets to a soldiers personal weapon.

That's providing of course that bullets remained in bodies. The weapons used on the day were the L1A1 SLR, it fired a 7.62mm round. At close range I'd imagine a lot passed through and exited the victims but enough should have been removed from victims to trace by more than one weapon.

Each weapon is a personal issue, signed for by the soldier.

Soldier F must be pushing 70 years old, even if he's found guilty and convicted of murder he's lived the vast majority of his life as a free man.

The people of Derry will never receive justice for bloody Sunday.

They won't receive justice. They will join a long queue of innocent people from both sides who will never see justice.

Havockk · 14-03-2019 6:48pm

Edgware wrote: »

Soldier Fs legal team will drag this out, demanding a trial in England and end up using the Ivor Bell defence of dementia, unfit to plead etc.

That's in another legal system. This one has to take place in the North, I'd speculate Belfast rather than Derry given the circumstances.

FrancieBrady · 14-03-2019 6:55pm

Havockk wrote: »

That's in another legal system. This one has to take place in the North, I'd speculate Belfast rather than Derry given the circumstances.

Yes, Belfast seems to be where it will be.

They have probably chosen the soldier who is least likely to sing like a canary now his liberty is threatened.

He may even have indicated he would take one for the team.

Timberrrrrrrr · 14-03-2019 7:18pm

steddyeddy wrote: »

That's an extremely good point. In all of these conversations about Bloody Sunday there's always a substantial proportion of the British populace convinced the protesters must have deserved it. Can you imagine Irish people questioning whether British people deserved to be killed by the IRA? I think we're far more civilised about it.

You should check out some of the threads then, plenty of posters over the years have claimed Birmingham/Warrington bombings (killing of innocents) were justified and the dead were "collateral damage".

Sure it was a "war" and they had to do it is a line often used by the more extreme republican zealots.

lawred2 · 14-03-2019 7:21pm

Timberrrrrrrr wrote: »

You should check out some of the threads then, plenty of posters over the years have claimed Birmingham/Warrington bombings (killing of innocents) were justified and the dead were "collateral damage".

Sure it was a "war" and they had to do it is a line often used by the more extreme republican zealots.

Can you link to those threads please?

Timberrrrrrrr · 14-03-2019 7:25pm

lawred2 wrote: »

Can you link to those threads please?

The annual poppy threads would be a good start, anything about the IRA after that.

Wheres Me Jumper? · 14-03-2019 7:33pm

Timberrrrrrrr wrote: »

You should check out some of the threads then, plenty of posters over the years have claimed Birmingham/Warrington bombings (killing of innocents) were justified and the dead were "collateral damage".

Sure it was a "war" and they had to do it is a line often used by the more extreme republican zealots.

that's the thing that confuses me about the troubles.
was it a war or wasn't it?
it seems each side called it a war when it suited them, and then described it as not being a war when it suited them.

eg hunger-strikers were convinced to the point of starving themselves to death that they were military combatants engaged in a war.
Thatcher disagreed. Tories regularily describe the IRA as criminals. I now hear military sources in London say the Paras were entering a warzone, yet Republicans vehemently do not concur.
Confused?

Bloody Sunday soldier to be charged with murder

Comments