A British soldier who served in Northern Ireland at the time of Bloody Sunday has told an exclusive Daily Mail podcast that Troubles-era prosecutions ‘need to be stopped’ following the acquittal of a paratrooper charged with two murders.
Speaking to The Trial, Paul Young, a former Blues and Royals soldier warned against Labour’s decision to repeal the Legacy Act, introduced by the Conservatives in 2023, which had banned new criminal prosecutions related to Troubles-era killings.
Young, who was stationed in Northern Ireland from 1971 when he was just 21 years old, told reporter Glen Keogh that most people want a line drawn under the Troubles – arguing fresh criminal cases ‘benefit no one’.
A figurehead for the justice for Northern Ireland Veterans movement, Young was interviewed outside the court after soldier F was found not guilty of the shootings of James Wray, 22, and William McKinney, 26, on Bloody Sunday.
Speaking to The Trial, Paul Young (pictured), a former Blues and Royals soldier warned against Labour’s decision to repeal the Legacy Act
Delivering his verdict, Judge Patrick Lynch KC said the evidence against Soldier F fell ‘well short’ and ‘failed to meet the high standard of proof needed’ to convict.
‘There are many soldiers that served in Northern Ireland… that will breathe a sigh of relief’, Young said.
‘Certainly, for Soldier F, I hope this is the end for him. I hope he’s not going to be dragged through a needless appeal process.
‘He’s not a well man and if you’re found not guilty that should really be the end of it.
‘It was difficult for the judge – he came out with what we would say as veterans was the right decision.
‘As a former Detective Sergeant, I never ever thought that the evidence that was presented met the threshold for prosecution.’
The case against Soldier F hinged on statements made by two of his former comrades, known during proceedings as Soldiers G and H.
They claimed the paratrooper had fired shots in the direction of civil rights protestors on 30 January 1972.
However, in his ruling yesterday, Judge Lynch described the soldiers’ statements as ‘seriously untruthful’, ruling they couldn’t be trusted as they had changed over the years and both men had reason to avoid self-incrimination.
British troops behind a barbed wire barricade at Bloody Sunday in 1972
James Wray was 22 when he was killed during a demonstration in Londonderry in 1972
William McKinney, 26, was alleged to have been shot dead by Soldier F
Bloody Sunday saw British soldiers kill 13 unarmed civilians during a civil rights march in Londonderry.
Young said he hoped the verdict would draw a line under what was ‘miserable’ time in Northern Ireland.
He said: ‘Most people want a line to be drawn under this. They don’t want it to be going on year after year. It benefits no one.
‘I hold no animosity towards them [the victim’s families] … I’ll go back to this, in Northern Ireland in 1971, 44 soldiers were murdered.
‘In 1972, it was 104 – that’s a lot of soldiers murdered. Their families get no closure.
‘There’s no pursuit of those that murdered them. So, this whole process really needs to stop.
‘People need to put the past behind them and start moving forward.’
Despite finding Soldier F not guilty, Judge Lynch, sitting without a jury, issued a scathing verdict of the paratrooper’s actions on Bloody Sunday.
Reporter Keogh, who was in the Belfast court for the verdict, described the judgement as ‘unusual’.
Judge Lynch said: ‘They [the paratroopers] had lost all sense of military discipline.
‘Shooting in the back unarmed civilians fleeing from them on the streets of a British city. Those responsible should hang their heads in shame.’
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