UK Government Spends £4.3m Defending Soldier F in Bloody Sunday Trial

The UK Government has spent £4.3 million, potentially more, on the legal defense of Soldier F, a former paratrooper acquitted of two murders and five attempted murders related to the Bloody Sunday events in Londonderry, 1972. Soldier F was charged following the deaths of thirteen people during a civil rights demonstration, but the evidence was deemed insufficient for conviction by Judge Patrick Lynch. The Ministry of Defence has provided legal and welfare support to Soldier F since his initial charge in March 2019, including judicial review costs. This expenditure has been heavily criticized by Foyle MP Colum Eastwood and others, who describe it as a "double injustice" and "obscene," especially given the lack of government support for the families of the victims during the trial. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions regarding accountability for historical military actions and the government's prioritization of veteran support versus victims' justice. Veterans Minister Alistair Cairns defended the spending as part of the Ministry's commitment to supporting veterans and their families.