How the Legal Case of an Army Veteran Over the 1972 Londonderry Incident Ended in Acquittal
January 30th, 1972 remains arguably the deadliest – and consequential – occasions during multiple decades of unrest in this area.
Throughout the area where it happened – the legacy of that fateful day are painted on the structures and embedded in public consciousness.
A civil rights march was organized on a wintry, sunny day in the city.
The demonstration was challenging the system of imprisonment without charges – imprisoning people without due process – which had been established after three years of conflict.
Soldiers from the Parachute Regiment shot dead thirteen individuals in the Bogside area – which was, and remains, a strongly Irish nationalist population.
One image became especially prominent.
Images showed a clergyman, the priest, using a bloodied cloth while attempting to defend a crowd carrying a young man, the injured teenager, who had been killed.
News camera operators captured much footage on the day.
Documented accounts features Father Daly explaining to a media representative that soldiers "just seemed to shoot indiscriminately" and he was "completely sure" that there was no provocation for the discharge of weapons.
That version of what happened wasn't accepted by the initial investigation.
The initial inquiry determined the soldiers had been attacked first.
Throughout the resolution efforts, Tony Blair's government commissioned a new investigation, following pressure by surviving kin, who said the initial inquiry had been a inadequate investigation.
During 2010, the conclusion by the investigation said that overall, the soldiers had discharged weapons initially and that zero among the casualties had been armed.
The contemporary Prime Minister, the Prime Minister, issued an apology in the government chamber – stating deaths were "unjustified and unjustifiable."
Authorities commenced investigate the matter.
A military veteran, identified as Soldier F, was prosecuted for murder.
Accusations were made concerning the deaths of one victim, in his twenties, and twenty-six-year-old William McKinney.
The accused was further implicated of attempting to murder Patrick O'Donnell, Joseph Friel, further individuals, Michael Quinn, and an unnamed civilian.
Remains a court ruling protecting the veteran's privacy, which his attorneys have claimed is necessary because he is at risk of attack.
He stated to the investigation that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at people who were armed.
That claim was rejected in the final report.
Evidence from the examination would not be used straightforwardly as testimony in the court case.
In court, the veteran was shielded from sight behind a privacy screen.
He addressed the court for the first time in the proceedings at a hearing in late 2024, to respond "not responsible" when the charges were put to him.
Relatives of the victims on Bloody Sunday journeyed from Derry to the judicial building each day of the trial.
John Kelly, whose sibling was died, said they were aware that attending the case would be painful.
"I remember the events in my memory," John said, as we examined the key areas mentioned in the proceedings – from Rossville Street, where his brother was shot dead, to the adjoining the area, where James Wray and William McKinney were died.
"It even takes me back to my location that day.
"I assisted with Michael and lay him in the medical transport.
"I experienced again the entire event during the testimony.
"But even with enduring everything – it's still worthwhile for me."