Debate contribution: Soldier F: Not Guilty Verdict

Debate contribution by Mrs Ciara Ferguson on 3 November 2025.

MLA

Mrs Ciara Ferguson

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

3 November 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Matters of the Day

Heading

Soldier F: Not Guilty Verdict

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5212680

Read the official Assembly record

Text

For more than 53 years, the Bloody Sunday families have fought consistently, courageously and collectively in pursuit of truth and justice. On that day, the British army indiscriminately murdered 14 innocent civilians, many of whom were teenagers, and injured at least 15 more, on the streets of Derry. Not one British soldier or their military and political superiors has ever been held to account for their actions. The decision not to convict Soldier F is a travesty. As is reflected on the Free Derry wall, that remains an affront to justice. It goes against the very principles of what justice is meant to entail: principles of fairness, impartiality and due process. We have been proud to walk with the families for over half a century. In the wake of that most recent, deplorable decision, we remain ever more determined. We commend the determination, dedication and diligence of the Bloody Sunday families. The Bloody Sunday families can stand proud and undaunted in the full knowledge of the thought that reminds them that they have been and, on this day, remain on the right side of history. The Bloody Sunday justice campaign is a campaign led with dignity and carried out of love; the families' campaign for their deeply cherished loved ones: their sons and fathers, brothers and uncles. In 2010, they proudly achieved the first two limbs of the campaign's demands when the Bloody Sunday inquiry consigned the Widgery report to history and all the victims were declared innocent. The truth was set free. Whilst the recent decision was a setback to their final ask — to hold those responsible for the murders and attempted murders of their loved ones to account before a criminal court — it is due to their bravery and resilience that they have reached that stage to date. They have met the British state's attempts to subvert justice and the rule of law head on. Despite this most recent setback, their quest for accountability and justice remains. We in Sinn Féin continue to stand with the families now as we did then and will do ever more in the days, weeks and months to come. We will support whatever decision they make on the next steps forward.

371 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 13:46 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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