Soldier F case adjourned until next month

A decision about the venue for the committal hearing of the only soldier charged in connection with Bloody Sunday has been adjourned until next month.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th Feb 2020, 11:06 BST
The courthouse at Bishop Street, Derry.The courthouse at Bishop Street, Derry.
The courthouse at Bishop Street, Derry.

It had been expected that a decision regarding the venue and date for the hearing would be made today.

However, defence counsel Mark Mullholland QC said he would like some time to make submissions in relation to a letter submitted to the court on behalf of the victims families.

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Soldier F is accused of the murder of James Wray and William McKinney on January 30, 1972.

He is also accused of the attempted murder of Joseph Friel, Joseph Mahon, Michael Quinn and Patrick O’Donnell on Bloody Sunday.

A further charge accuses Soldier F of the attempted murder of a person or persons unknown.

The former paratrooper was not present for the brief hearing.

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Earlier this month, Liam Wray, whose brother Jim was killed on Bloody Sunday, wrote a letter to the court asking for the committal hearing to be held in Bishop Street Courthouse.

Mr Mullholland QC said that having considered the letter he intended to make submissions in relation to the ‘issues surrounding venue’.

District Judge Barney McElholm agreed to adjourn the case.

He revealed that another District Judge would be taking carriage of the case and he will make a final decision regarding venue and date of the hearing.

Judge McElholm said there was a lot of work going on in the background to assess the ‘feasibility of different venues’ which have the ‘space available to accommodate as many people who wish to observe the proceedings as possible.

The case was adjourned until March 26.