James Wray (left) and William McKinney murdered by British soldier on Bloody Sunday in Derry in January 1972
Soldier F is the only ex-British army paratrooper facing murder charges arising from the killings by members of the Parachute Regiment’s First Battalion of 13 civilians in the Bogside area of Londonderry on Bloody Sunday on January 30, 1972.
District Judge Peter Magill, who has charge of the preliminary inquiry hearing, ruled that nothing about the hearing in terms of opening statements by either the prosecution or by the defence could be made public.
Mr Magill also ruled that none of the testimony given by witnesses to the hearing could be made public.
Relatives of some of those killed and injured on Bloody Sunday gathered at court in Derry today for the start of the commital proceedings against the only British soldier to be charged in connection with the deaths of 14 people on January 30, 1972.
Identified only as Soldier F, he is charged with the murder of Jim Wray and William McKinney and the attempted murder of four other people on the same date.
At the beginning of the hearing District Judge Magill said that he had just received “a substantial” bundle of submissions on the issue of anonymity for Soldier F.
He noted that the defendant had anonymity running from the Widgery Inquiry through the Saville Inquiry to the latest proceedings.
Judge Magill said that he would leave the anonymity order in place for the time being while he read the submissions and authorities.
He said he would rule on the issue at some stage but not before he had considered all the material.
He told Fiona Doherty QC who acts for some of the relatives that he would try and give her notice before he made his ruling.
The proceedings began with the opening address by Louis Mably QC for the prosecution.
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