James Wray (left) and William McKinney murdered by British soldier on Bloody Sunday in Derry in January 1972
The district judge also ruled that none of the testimony given by witnesses could be made public.
Mr Durkan subsequently tabled a two-day priority Assembly question to Justice Minister, Naomi Long for her assessment on the matter.
Said the Foyle MLA: “Last week, the long overdue preliminary hearing into Soldier F, the only ex-British army paratrooper facing murder charges over Bloody Sunday, got underway.
“However, Judge Magill has seen fit to impose a media ban on this high-profile case and in doing so, has once more denied justice to the families of Bloody Sunday victims.
“This is an insult not only to families who have fought almost four decades for their day in court and opportunity to bear witness to the horrors of that day, but to the very principles of open justice.
“This blanket ban cannot go unchallenged.
“Clearly this move infringes on journalists’ role as defenders of the legal principle of open justice.
“Restrictions on reporting in any case but particularly one weighted with such importance, only serves to undermine openness and transparency, causing further distress for the families involved.
“I am disappointed but not surprised by Minister Long’s deliberate evasiveness in her response to my urgent written question on this significant trial.
“If, as she truly believes “open justice is a key principle of the justice system and of society” then I am dumbfounded as to why she did not deem it necessary to comment on such an egregious departure from that principle.
“Soldier F has been granted anonymity, been spared physical attendance at Derry Magistrates’ Court and now the media have been served a gagging order.
“It would appear that court proceedings have become more about the protection of an ex-British soldier alleged of multiple atrocities, than delivering justice for the families of Jim Wray, William McKinney and Patrick O’Donnell as well as closure for Joseph Friel, Michael Quinn, and Joe Mahon.
Soldier F commital proceedings taking place at Derry courthouse
“The words unjustified and unjustifiable continue to reverberate.”
He concluded: “Removing the media ban has little to do with fear of a ‘thin news day’ but rather this is about upholding the overarching principles which underpin our legal system – the balance of a fair and equal administration of the law depends on transparency.
“It must be lifted with immediate effect.”
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