Northern Ireland

Bloody Sunday trial venue to be confirmed later today

Soldier F is expected to be charged with the murders of Bloody Sunday victims, Jim Wray (left) and William McKinney. PICTURE: Bloody Sunday Trust/PA Wire.
Soldier F is expected to be charged with the murders of Bloody Sunday victims, Jim Wray (left) and William McKinney. PICTURE: Bloody Sunday Trust/PA Wire. Soldier F is expected to be charged with the murders of Bloody Sunday victims, Jim Wray (left) and William McKinney. PICTURE: Bloody Sunday Trust/PA Wire.

A decision on whether the trial of Soldier F will take place in Derry or Belfast is expected to be revealed today.

The former British paratrooper is expected to be charged with the murder of Bloody Sunday victims, Jim Wray and William McKinney. He is also facing four attempted murder charges linked to the wounding of Patrick O’Donnell, Joe Mahon, Joseph Friel and Michael Quinn on Bloody Sunday.

At a preliminary hearing of the case, it was suggested the trial would have to be moved to Belfast as Derry’s Bishop Street court house would not be large enough to facilitate the hearings. However, the Bloody Sunday families have objected strongly to any suggestion that the case should be moved out of the city.

Liam Wray, a brother of Jim Wray, submitted a letter to District Judge, Barney McElholm making clear his opposition to any effort to move the Soldier F trial to Belfast.

Mr McElholm said the rights of everyone involved in the case, including Soldier F and the Bloody Sunday families, had to be balanced. The district judge said Mr Wray’s letter outlined the families’ views on any change of venue and would be considered.

Following a hearing earlier this month, Mr Wray said each family would make its own decision on whether or not to attend the trial.

Mr Wray told journalists: “If it takes place in Belfast, Liam Wray will not be attending. That’s how serious we are about it.”

District Judge McElholm pledged to deliver his ruling on the trial venue today.