SDLP Leader and Foyle MP Colum Eastwood
The Foyle MP named Soldier F during a debate in the House of Commons on the Armed Forces Bill this afternoon.
The former paratrooper has been accused of murdering James Wray and William McKinney on Bloody Sunday on January 30 1972, when troops opened fire on civil rights demonstrators in Derry’s Bogside, killing 13 people while a 14th man later died of his wounds.
He was also accused of the attempted murders of Patrick O’Donnell, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon and Michael Quinn. He faced a further supporting charge of the attempted murder of a person or persons unknown on the day.
He had been granted anonymity by the judge hearing the case.
Parliamentary privilege gives MPs unrestricted free speech in the House of Commons, allowing them to name names without the risk of being sued for defamation.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Eastwood intervened on shadow defence minister Stephanie Peacock as the House of Commons considered amendments to the Armed Forces Bill.
He said: “Almost 50 years ago, 14 unarmed civil rights marchers were murdered on the streets of Derry by the Parachute Regiment.”
Mr Eastwood went on to make allegations against Soldier F, including stating a name.
The MP added: “For 50 years he’s been granted anonymity.
“Now the government wants to give him an amnesty.
“Does the shadow minister agree with me that nobody, none of the perpetrators involved in murder during our Troubles should be granted an amnesty?”
Soldier F was granted anonymity after the judge hearing the case concluded “a real risk does exist” to his life and he is right to “feel genuine fear”.
Earlier this month, the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) said it planned to withdraw all charges after reviewing the case in light of a recent court ruling that caused the collapse of another Troubles murder trial involving two military veterans.
The case was due to be formally dismissed in court last week but a brother of William McKinney was granted leave to seek a judicial review of the PPS’s determination that the trial should not take place.
The case is due to be heard in September.
The British government’s former veterans minister Johnny Mercer this afternoon called for Mr Eastwood to be sanctioned for naming Solider F: “Unnecessary and dangerous.
“I have never defended this man, but I will defend his right to a fair process.
“Eastwood should be sanctioned for deliberately mis-using parliamentary privilege.”
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