The Way the Prosecution of a Former Soldier Regarding the 1972 Londonderry Incident Concluded in Acquittal

Protesters in a confrontation with British soldiers on Bloody Sunday
Youths in a stand-off with British soldiers on Bloody Sunday

January 30th, 1972 is remembered as among the deadliest – and consequential – occasions throughout thirty years of unrest in the region.

Within the community where events unfolded – the memories of that fateful day are painted on the buildings and embedded in people's minds.

A protest demonstration was conducted on a wintry, sunny period in the city.

The demonstration was a protest against the system of detention without trial – holding suspects without legal proceedings – which had been established in response to multiple years of unrest.

Fr Edward Daly used a bloodied fabric while attempting to protect a group transporting a young man, the injured teenager
A Catholic priest used a white cloth stained with blood while attempting to shield a group transporting a young man, the fatally wounded youth

Soldiers from the specialized division fatally wounded 13 people in the district – which was, and remains, a overwhelmingly nationalist area.

A specific visual became particularly prominent.

Photographs showed a clergyman, Fr Edward Daly, using a bloodied fabric in his effort to defend a group transporting a young man, Jackie Duddy, who had been killed.

Journalists recorded considerable film on the day.

The archive features Fr Daly explaining to a journalist that soldiers "just seemed to fire in all directions" and he was "completely sure" that there was no provocation for the gunfire.

Individuals in the neighborhood being taken to detention by military personnel on Bloody Sunday
Civilians in the Bogside area being marched towards arrest by British troops on Bloody Sunday

This account of what happened was rejected by the original examination.

The initial inquiry found the Army had been attacked first.

During the resolution efforts, Tony Blair's government established a new investigation, after campaigning by bereaved relatives, who said the first investigation had been a cover-up.

That year, the conclusion by Lord Saville said that on balance, the soldiers had discharged weapons initially and that none of the individuals had been armed.

The contemporary head of state, David Cameron, issued an apology in the House of Commons – stating deaths were "without justification and inexcusable."

Relatives of the deceased of the 1972 incident killings walk from the district of Derry to the municipal center displaying images of their relatives
Relatives of the casualties of the 1972 incident shootings march from the neighborhood of Derry to the Guildhall holding photographs of their family members

The police commenced look into the events.

One former paratrooper, referred to as the defendant, was prosecuted for homicide.

He was charged regarding the killings of James Wray, in his twenties, and in his mid-twenties another victim.

Soldier F was further implicated of attempting to murder Patrick O'Donnell, additional persons, further individuals, another person, and an unidentified individual.

There is a legal order protecting the soldier's identity protection, which his legal team have argued is required because he is at danger.

He stated to the Saville Inquiry that he had solely shot at persons who were possessing firearms.

The statement was rejected in the official findings.

Material from the examination was unable to be used directly as testimony in the legal proceedings.

During the trial, the accused was hidden from public using a protective barrier.

He made statements for the initial occasion in court at a session in December 2024, to reply "not responsible" when the accusations were put to him.

Relatives and allies of the deceased on Bloody Sunday display a banner and images of the deceased
Kin and allies of those killed on the incident display a sign and photographs of the deceased

Relatives of the victims on Bloody Sunday made the trip from Londonderry to Belfast Crown Court daily of the trial.

A family member, whose relative was fatally wounded, said they always knew that attending the case would be emotional.

"I visualize everything in my recollection," the relative said, as we walked around the primary sites discussed in the proceedings – from Rossville Street, where the victim was killed, to the nearby the area, where the individual and the second person were died.

"It even takes me back to where I was that day.

"I participated in moving my brother and lay him in the ambulance.

"I relived the entire event during the testimony.

"But even with having to go through the process – it's still meaningful for me."

One victim (left) and William McKinney (right) were among those who were died on the incident
Michael White
Michael White

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