How this Legal Case of a Former Soldier Over Bloody Sunday Concluded in Acquittal
January 30th, 1972 stands as arguably the deadliest – and consequential – dates throughout thirty years of violence in this area.
In the streets of the incident – the memories of Bloody Sunday are painted on the structures and etched in people's minds.
A protest demonstration was organized on a wintry, sunny day in Derry.
The march was opposing the policy of internment – detaining individuals without due process – which had been established following multiple years of unrest.
Troops from the Parachute Regiment killed thirteen individuals in the Bogside area – which was, and continues to be, a strongly nationalist area.
A specific visual became particularly prominent.
Pictures showed a Catholic priest, Father Daly, using a blood-stained fabric in his effort to shield a group transporting a youth, the fatally wounded individual, who had been mortally injured.
Journalists captured extensive video on the day.
The archive includes Father Daly explaining to a media representative that military personnel "just seemed to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no reason for the discharge of weapons.
The narrative of what happened wasn't accepted by the original examination.
The first investigation concluded the soldiers had been fired upon initially.
During the negotiation period, the administration set up a new investigation, in response to advocacy by surviving kin, who said the first investigation had been a whitewash.
In 2010, the conclusion by the inquiry said that generally, the soldiers had discharged weapons initially and that not one of the casualties had been armed.
At that time head of state, the leader, expressed regret in the Parliament – declaring fatalities were "unjustified and unacceptable."
The police began to investigate the events.
One former paratrooper, identified as Soldier F, was prosecuted for killing.
Accusations were made concerning the deaths of James Wray, 22, and in his mid-twenties William McKinney.
The defendant was additionally charged of attempting to murder multiple individuals, additional persons, more people, an additional individual, and an unidentified individual.
Remains a court ruling maintaining the soldier's identity protection, which his legal team have argued is necessary because he is at risk of attack.
He testified the Saville Inquiry that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at individuals who were carrying weapons.
This assertion was rejected in the final report.
Evidence from the investigation was unable to be used immediately as proof in the criminal process.
In the dock, the veteran was screened from view behind a blue curtain.
He spoke for the initial occasion in court at a hearing in December 2024, to reply "innocent" when the charges were put to him.
Family members of the victims on Bloody Sunday journeyed from Londonderry to the judicial building every day of the trial.
One relative, whose sibling was killed, said they understood that attending the case would be emotional.
"I can see all details in my memory," he said, as we examined the primary sites discussed in the proceedings – from Rossville Street, where Michael was shot dead, to the adjoining Glenfada Park, where the individual and another victim were died.
"It returns me to my location that day.
"I helped to carry Michael and lay him in the ambulance.
"I went through the entire event during the testimony.
"Despite enduring the process – it's still valuable for me."
