‘Gallant’ soldier had a distinguished career

THE only soldier facing prosecution for murder over Bloody Sunday was praised for his bravery “in the face of the enemy” just a few months after the shootings in Londonderry.

Soldier F, a lance corporal at the time, had a long and distinguished career in the military, retiring as a regimental sergeant major.

He joined 1 Para, the regiment implicated in Bloody Sunday, in 1966 and served 22 years, retiring in 1988. His career included a long spell in special forces.

Sources said he remained stoic when informed he was being charged with two murders and four attempted murders over the events of more than 47 years ago.

Now in his 70s, Soldier F, a devoted family man, would have hoped to enjoy his retirement by spending more time with his grandchildren.

Instead he will face years of being dragged through a court process put in place as a result of the decision to charge him by the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland.

Soldier F was given anonymity as long ago as 1999, at the outset of the £200million Bloody Sunday inquiry, but his real identity is at risk of being made public once he is brought to court.

A former colleague from 1 Para, who served with him in Londonderry on Bloody Sunday, said: “He is some soldier. What a way to treat him 47 years on. It is terrible that he is being singled out.”

Another source said: “When he heard the news he took it the way you would expect someone who served two decades in the Army to react. He was stoic.”

Soldier F was mentioned in dispatches for the detention of two IRA suspected terrorists in Belfast during the Troubles, it is understood. The honour is granted to soldiers for “gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy”.

He was first interviewed by police under caution over Bloody Sunday in 2015 and has had to wait four years to learn his fate.

Soldier F gave evidence in October 2003 to the inquiry chaired by Lord Saville of Newdigate. He admitted to shooting protesters, but insisted he was justified.

“I was doing my job as a soldier,” he said. “The people I shot are the petrol bombers or a person who had a weapon.” He denied murdering anyone and said he felt he had done nothing wrong.

“I am very, very sorry for what happened on that day, but I am here to … assist to tell the truth,” Soldier F said.

Prosecutors said yesterday that he would be charged with the murders of James Wray, 22, and William Mckinney, 27, and attempted murders of Joseph Friel, Michael Quinn, Joe Mahon and Patrick O’donnell.