A former British paratrooper who was the only soldier ever charged in the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre in Northern Ireland was acquitted Thursday of murder charges.

Judge Patrick Lynch ruled at Belfast Crown Court that prosecutors failed to prove that the veteran identified only as Soldier F had opened fire on unarmed civilians who were running to safety.

At the judge-only trial, Lynch said the evidence presented against the veteran fell well short of what was required for conviction.

The verdict, which reflected the weak evidence prosecutors had to rely on, was a blow to families of victims who have spent more than a half-century seeking justice.

The former lance corporal had been charged with two counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder. Prosecutors said that he fired at f

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