How this Legal Case of an Army Veteran Over Bloody Sunday Concluded in Not Guilty Verdict

Protesters in a tense situation with military personnel on Bloody Sunday
Youths in a tense situation with army troops on Bloody Sunday

Sunday 30 January 1972 is remembered as one of the deadliest – and significant – dates in thirty years of conflict in the region.

In the streets of the incident – the legacy of that fateful day are visible on the structures and etched in collective memory.

A civil rights march was organized on a cold but bright period in the city.

The protest was a protest against the policy of imprisonment without charges – detaining individuals without trial – which had been put in place following three years of violence.

A Catholic priest used a white cloth stained with blood while attempting to shield a group transporting a youth, the injured teenager
Father Daly waved a blood-stained handkerchief in an effort to protect a crowd moving a teenager, Jackie Duddy

Troops from the Parachute Regiment killed thirteen individuals in the Bogside area – which was, and remains, a overwhelmingly Irish nationalist community.

A specific visual became particularly prominent.

Photographs showed a Catholic priest, Father Daly, displaying a stained with blood cloth as he tried to defend a group transporting a teenager, the injured teenager, who had been fatally wounded.

News camera operators documented much footage on the day.

Documented accounts includes the priest informing a reporter that soldiers "gave the impression they would shoot indiscriminately" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no reason for the discharge of weapons.

Individuals in the district being taken to arrest by military personnel on Bloody Sunday
Civilians in the district being taken to arrest by British troops on Bloody Sunday

The narrative of the incident was disputed by the initial investigation.

The initial inquiry found the soldiers had been shot at first.

During the negotiation period, the administration established another inquiry, after campaigning by family members, who said the initial inquiry had been a inadequate investigation.

That year, the findings by Lord Saville said that generally, the paratroopers had initiated shooting and that not one of the casualties had posed any threat.

The contemporary government leader, the leader, apologised in the government chamber – declaring fatalities were "without justification and inexcusable."

Relatives of the victims of the tragic event shootings process from the neighborhood of the city to the Guildhall holding images of their family members
Relatives of the victims of the tragic event shootings march from the Bogside area of Derry to the municipal center displaying photographs of their family members

Authorities commenced investigate the events.

A military veteran, known as the accused, was prosecuted for homicide.

He was charged regarding the killings of one victim, 22, and twenty-six-year-old the second individual.

Soldier F was additionally charged of trying to kill several people, other civilians, more people, another person, and an unnamed civilian.

There is a legal order maintaining the defendant's privacy, which his attorneys have argued is necessary because he is at threat.

He testified the investigation that he had solely shot at individuals who were armed.

This assertion was rejected in the concluding document.

Material from the examination would not be used immediately as proof in the court case.

In the dock, the veteran was screened from view behind a blue curtain.

He made statements for the initial occasion in the hearing at a hearing in December 2024, to respond "innocent" when the allegations were read.

Relatives and supporters of those killed on Bloody Sunday hold a sign and photographs of those killed
Family members and supporters of those killed on the incident carry a sign and images of the deceased

Relatives of those who were killed on the incident made the trip from Londonderry to Belfast Crown Court daily of the case.

One relative, whose relative was died, said they were aware that hearing the trial would be emotional.

"I visualize all details in my recollection," John said, as we examined the key areas mentioned in the proceedings – from the location, where Michael was fatally wounded, to the adjoining Glenfada Park, where one victim and William McKinney were killed.

"It returns me to where I was that day.

"I helped to carry Michael and lay him in the vehicle.

"I went through each detail during the testimony.

"Notwithstanding enduring all that – it's still meaningful for me."

James Wray (left) and William McKinney (right) were part of who were killed on the incident
Todd Wilson
Todd Wilson

Tech writer and AI researcher passionate about demystifying complex technologies for a broader audience.

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