A former British soldier, who is being referred to as Soldier F to protect his identity, was in court for the first time Friday as he faces charges for the murders of William McKinney and James Wray and five counts of attempted murder during Bloody Sunday.

Bloody Sunday took place 52 years ago, on January 30, 1972, in the town of Derry in Northern Ireland. British paratroopers opened fire on over 10,000 Roman Catholic civil rights supporters during a peaceful protest opposing the British government’s policy of interning suspected members of the IRA without trial, killing 13 and injuring 14 others.

Northern Ireland’s Public Prosecution Service (PPS) recommenced proceedings against Soldier F in 2022 after withdrawing them in 2021. In a 2022 press release, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Michael Agnew addressed the issue:

I am very conscious of the upset caused to the Bloody Sunday families by the PPS decision to withdraw proceedings against Soldier F last year. It is our role to keep under review the evidence presented in every case. This case has presented difficult and complex legal issues for prosecutors, as was acknowledged by the Divisional Court. The PPS is committed to progressing court proceedings against Soldier F without any further delay.

Soldier F appeared in court Friday behind a blue curtain to further protect his identity. His legal team attempted to argue there were inconsistencies in the accounts of two other soldiers who were with Soldier F on Bloody Sunday. They also stated that the murders were in “self defense.” Crown barrister Louis Malby KC, the opposing counsel, accepted the notion of “contestable evidence” but stated these should be dealt with at trial. The anonymity of Soldier F was also debated, but after hearing from a former RUC assistant Cheif Constable Alan McQuillan about the possible threat to Soldier F, Justice Fowler, the presiding judge, determined it should be maintained for now.

Soldier F was granted continuing bail.