Why Was British Soldier Charged With 1972 Bloody Sunday Murder?

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“A former British soldier will stand trial for firing on civil rights protesters in Northern Ireland in 1972, an event that came to be known as Bloody Sunday, prosecutors said. But 16 other ex-paratroopers and two former members of the Official IRA will face no action.”

The army veteran, known as Soldier F, has been charged with the murder of demonstrators James Wray and William McKinney and the attempted murders of four other men, the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland said on Thursday.

Bloody Sunday was one of the darkest episodes in Northern Ireland’s Troubles. On 30 January 1972 troops fired on unarmed protesters in a civil rights march in Derry, also known as Londonderry, killing 13 people and wounding 15. One injured man died four months later.

The families of the victims have campaigned for decades for the former soldiers to face justice. Relatives were visibly upset following the announcement of the decision.

Solicitor Ciaran Shiels, a solicitor for a number of them, said they were “disappointed that not all of those responsible are to face trial.”

Have you ever heard such a load of old bollocks?

Yes, British soldiers opened fire on demonstrators. Yes, unarmed civilians died. Yes, this is not a good thing.

Precisely how will charging a former British soldier, now in his 70’s or beyond, actually help anybody?

Guess what? He, whoever he is, didn’t open fire because he felt like it. He opened fire because his commanding officer told him to. That’s part of being a soldier. You obey orders.

Somebody was certainly firing on the British troops. That is accepted by sane people. The demonstrators weren’t firing on the British soldiers. That is also accepted by the same people.

The officer(s) in charge cocked up. They thought the incoming fire was from the demonstrators and ordered the soldiers to fire back, which, being good soldiers who obeyed orders (not to mention objecting to somebody shooting at them), did so.

Several completely innocent demonstrators died as a result.

This is a very bad thing. Especially for those who died and their families. I get that.

If I was a relative of one of the dead I would be angry as hell.

Revenge is not justice and, frankly, the desire to charge a former British soldier in this way is simply revenge.

‘Oh no it isn’t!’ would cry the relatives. Oh yes, it bloody well is. And I say that with the clear knowledge that I would feel exactly the same if I was a relative of one of the deceased. I would want revenge – albeit I would claim it was actually justice I wanted.

I’ve got a great idea. Let’s charge loads of Vietnam veterans with killing civilians during the Vietnam War eh? We all know it happened. We all know, somehow, somebody investigating could find a few names to put in the frame.

Let’s not stop there either. Let’s see if we can find enough former soldiers still around after WWII. I bet, if we tried hard enough, we could find one or two who shot a German who was trying to surrender.

How about The Gulf War then? I bet there are a few soldiers who either behaved badly or obeyed some moronic officer and did something regrettable.

How about the flight crew of ‘Enola Gay’ then? Can they be posthumously charged with slaughtering thousands of innocent civilians in Hiroshima? Why not? If the cap fits.

There you go, Colonel Paul Tibbets, the pilot of the Enola Gay, charged with the mass murder of civilians posthumously.

Is it any wonder there is a decline in people applying for military service? You’re trained to obey orders. You question the orders you are given at your peril. Generally, at least in the military of western liberal democracies, the orders will seem to make sense at the time.

Oops.

Your commanding officer said ‘open fire’ when you were being fired upon. You obey and people get shot dead.

40 odd years later some Muppet decides that you are to be charged with murder.

Absolute and utter bullshit.

You don’t think so? Fine. If some mad bastards ever invade your country don’t be surprised if your military just say ‘Screw this for a game of soldiers’ and run away. What’s the point of defending and protecting everyone if your ultimate reward is to be charged with murder.

Mind you, there are plenty of ex-service personnel in Blighty who haven’t been charged with murder. They’re just living on the streets in cardboard boxes suffering from PTSD.

Whoever ‘Soldier F’ is – as he is being called – I really really hope that this 70 odd-year-old ex-soldier climbs into the witness box, looks the entire court in the eyes, and gives them his middle finger.

And that is more respect than they will deserve.

By the way – as an addendum. IRA murderers were given complete amnesty – including those locked up for murder – to facilitate the ‘Good Friday Agreement’ which saw the end of hostilities in Northern Ireland. (Albeit another bunch of IRA thugs seems to be emerging at the moment).

Oh great. Pardon the terrorists and charge the military.

Are British soldiers perfect? No. Did British soldiers do anything untoward over the years in Northern Ireland? Probably.

Hey! Guess what? The IRA blew up innocent men, women, and children – and not just in Northern Ireland either. They blew up innocent men, women, and children on the British mainland too.

Oh, that’s ok. They get a pardon. They even got a letter confirming they would never face any legal consequences. They did you know. From the British government. Letters exonerating them as part of the ‘peace process’.

Cool. The British government exonerates IRA murdering thugs but prosecute British soldiers 40 odd years after events.

If it didn’t make you weep you would laugh hysterically at the contempt the British government has wouldn’t you?

Oh yeah, nearly forgot. Well done certain (I presume mainly) Irish Americans for financially supporting the terrorist thugs. Well? Why should you get off lightly when a former British soldier is about to carry the can for all the garbage that was, and to some extent, still is, Northern Ireland?

Oh and don’t give me all that garbage about freedom fighters for a united Ireland. If you actually think that crap then, clearly, you haven’t a clue.

I am livid. (In case you didn’t notice).

About Post Author

Neil Bamforth

I am English first, British second and never ever European. I have supported Oldham Athletic FC for 50 years which has made me immune from depression. My taste buds have died due to too many red hot curries so I drink Kronenburg beer and milk - sometimes in the same glass. I have a wife, daughter, 9 cats and I like toast.

fourdinners14223647@aol.com