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Bloody Sunday victim's brother criticises 'death threat' sentence

BBC Mickey McKinney has short grey hair. He is wearing glasses and has a green coat on with a blue shirt and jumper. He is standing in a reception area with a lift in the background. BBC
Mickey McKinney, whose brother William was killed on Bloody Sunday,

The brother of one of the people killed on Bloody Sunday has criticised the sentence handed to a man who made threats against his family on social media.

Dean Portis, 42, from Olive Street, Belfast, sent social media posts to three brothers of William McKinney in September and October last year during the Soldier F trial.

On Wednesday, Portis was jailed for three months after earlier this year being convicted of two counts of improper use of a public communications network to send a message of a menacing character.

That jail sentence, William McKinney's brother Mickey said, does not reflect the severity of the "death threat" made against him and his brothers.

"This guy wasn't dealt the hand he should have been dealt," McKinney told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme.

"He threatened to kill, he should have got a more severe sentence," he said, adding he felt the case against Portis had been "played down".

"This guy made a threat to kill us and he was sentenced on being found guilty of the misuse of social media," McKinney said.

The Lady Chief Justice's office said the principle of judicial independence meant it could not comment on individual cases.

"Sentencing is a matter for the independent judge, based on the specific facts, the law and all relevant factors presented to the court," a spokesperson said.

"Judges approach sentencing with the utmost seriousness and care.

"Sentencing is a structured and carefully considered process, reflecting both the law and the individual circumstances of the case."

The Public Prosecution Service has also been approached for comment.

Pacemaker A picture taken on 30 January 1972 - Bloody Sunday. A group of men are carrying a lifeless body - they are accompanied by a priest waving a wife handkerchief. There are soldiers at the side of the picture and in the foreground.Pacemaker
Thirteen people were killed and 15 wounded on Bloody Sunday

McKinney's brother William was among 13 people shot dead by the Parachute Regiment at a civil rights demonstration in Londonderry on 30 January 1972.

In October 2025, the former paratrooper known as Soldier F was found not guilty of the murder of William McKinney, 26, and James Wray, 22, as well as five charges of attempted murder.

Three men stood looking at the camera. On the left is a bald man wearing a navy-blue shirt and a black jacket. In the middle is a man with glasses wearing a dark jacket. On the right is a man with grey hair wearing a green jumper and a green jacket. The appear to be standing in front of a monument.
The McKinney family said they reported the threat to the police

William McKinney said the brothers had received the social media messages during the early days of Soldier F's trial.

Under a newspaper report of Mickey McKinney, and his brothers Joe and John attending court, the post said: "If yous (sic) continue to target the British Armed Forces including the PSNI the consequences will be swift and deadly.

It added: "Yous (sic) have been warned."

A collage of black and white photographs of the 13 people killed on Bloody Sunday. The victims, top row (l to r): Patrick Doherty, Gerald Donaghey, John Duddy, Hugh Gilmour, Michael Kelly, Michael McDaid and Kevin McElhinney. Bottom row : Bernard McGuigan, Gerard McKinney, William McKinney, William Nash, James Wray and John Young
The victims, top row (l to r): Patrick Doherty, Gerald Donaghey, John Duddy, Hugh Gilmour, Michael Kelly, Michael McDaid and Kevin McElhinney. Bottom row : Bernard McGuigan, Gerard McKinney, William McKinney, William Nash, James Wray and John Young

Mickey McKinney said the brothers had " a few anxious nights" following the messages.

"Because we were in court the next morning and I'm not sure now about Joe and John, but I know I started retracing my steps on the way to the court and wondering," McKinney said.

Portis, he said, had since apologised to the McKinney family but added it was difficult to accept.

Restraining order

In court on Wednesday a suspended three month jail term Portis had previously received for a separate offence was also activated.

He was also banned from intimidating or harassing the McKinney family as part of a two year restraining order.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) said they acknowledged the "distress this case has brought to the victims and noted the sentence imposed by the court".

"Sentencing is a matter for the judiciary," the spokesperson added.

"As set out in the PPS Code for Prosecutors, it is for the prosecutor to determine the appropriate charge or charges presented to the court, having regard to all of the available evidence and information submitted by police.

"All decisions in this case were made in accordance with the Code for Prosecutors."