January 30, 1972: Scenes from Bloody Sunday in Derry.Getty Images

The trial for Soldier F, the former British paratrooper accused of killing James Wray and William McKinney in Derry on Bloody Sunday in 1972, is due to begin at the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast on Monday, September 15.

During a short pre-trial hearing at Belfast Crown Court, barristers told the judge they anticipate that the trial would commence on Monday, the BBC has reported.

Soldier F has pleaded not guilty to the murders of Wray and McKinney, as well as to the attempted murders of five other people on Bloody Sunday.

On Friday, September 12, The Bloody Sunday families announced that they will gather at the Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast on Monday morning to mark the beginning of the trial.

Trust chairperson Tony Doherty, whose father Patrick was among the 14 people murdered on Bloody Sunday, said: "We have waited 53 long years for justice and, hopefully, we will see a measure of it through this trial.

"When the families of the victims formed the Bloody Sunday Justice Campaign in 1992, we had three clear demands: a declaration of innocence for all those killed and wounded, the repudiation of the Widgery Report, and the prosecution of those responsible.

"The first two demands have been met, and when a British soldier stands in the dock on Monday and faces charges of multiple murder and attempted murder, we will see the third demand met, although we will always believe there should be many more on trial for Bloody Sunday.

"This day will be a tribute to the strength of the Bloody Sunday families, whose indefatigable campaign for justice has made this happen.

"We hope to see justice at the end of this trial, we deserve it just the same as everyone else."

The gathering of the Bloody Sunday families on Monday is being supported by Relatives for Justice and the Time for Truth Campaign.

Bloody Sunday & Soldier F

Soldier F, who cannot be identified but is reportedly in his mid-70s, is the only British soldier to face prosecution over the events of Bloody Sunday, which occurred over 50 years ago.

On January 30, 1972, British paratroopers opened fire on a peaceful protest organized by the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association, which was protesting the poor treatment of Catholics in Northern Ireland.

13 people were killed on the day, while another person died months later after being shot in the leg.

In March 2019, Northern Ireland's Public Prosecution Service (PPS) announced that Soldier F would be prosecuted for the murders of Jim Wray and William McKinney.

James Wray and William McKinney were both murdered in Derry on Bloody Sunday.

In 2021, however, the PPS dropped the case against Soldier F after a separate trial collapsed against two other former British soldiers.

However, the High Court overruled the decision following a legal challenge from the relatives of Bloody Sunday victims, prompting the PPS to announce in September 2022 that it would recommence proceedings against Soldier F.

In December 2023, District Judge Ted Magill said he didn't "require any more time" and that he was returning Soldier F for trial on all charges.

The following June, lawyers for Soldier F applied to have the case against their client dismissed ahead of his trial, claiming that there was insufficient evidence. In December, however, Justice Fowler refused the defence application, ruling that statements from the time by two other soldiers provided "a sufficiency of evidence" to continue.

Soldier F pleaded not guilty last December to the murders of Wray and McKinney and the attempted murders of five other people on Bloody Sunday in 1972.