Threats Against Bloody Sunday Victim's Family
Mickey McKinney, whose brother William was killed on Bloody Sunday, has expressed criticism over the sentence given to a man who issued threats against his family via social media.
Dean Portis, 42, from Olive Street, Belfast, sent menacing social media messages to William McKinney’s three brothers during the Soldier F trial in September and October of the previous year.
On Wednesday, Portis was sentenced to three months in prison after being convicted earlier this year on two counts of improper use of a public communications network to send messages of a menacing character.
William McKinney’s brother, Mickey, stated that the jail term does not adequately reflect the seriousness of the "death threat" made against him and his siblings.
"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 added, expressing that 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.
NI has reached out to the office of the Lady Chief Justice and the Public Prosecution Service for comment.
Background on Bloody Sunday
Thirteen people were killed and 15 wounded on Bloody Sunday.
William McKinney was among the 13 individuals shot dead by the Parachute Regiment during a civil rights demonstration in Londonderry on 30 January 1972.
In October 2025, the former paratrooper known as Soldier F was acquitted of the murder of William McKinney, 26, and James Wray, 22, as well as five counts of attempted murder.
Details of the Threats
The McKinney family reported the threats to the police.
William McKinney said the brothers received the social media messages during the early stages of Soldier F’s trial.
Under a newspaper report showing Mickey McKinney and his brothers Joe and John attending court, the post stated: "If yous (sic) continue to target the British Armed Forces including the PSNI the consequences will be swift and deadly."
The message further warned: "Yous (sic) have been warned."
The victims of Bloody Sunday are shown in the following image:
Mickey McKinney described experiencing "a few anxious nights" following the receipt of 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 has since apologized to the McKinney family, though Mickey McKinney noted that it was difficult to accept the apology.
Legal Outcome and Restraining Order
In court on Wednesday, a previously suspended three-month jail term that Portis had received for a separate offence was activated.
Additionally, Portis was prohibited from intimidating or harassing the McKinney family under a two-year restraining order.
