How this Trial of a Former Soldier Regarding the 1972 Londonderry Incident Ended in Not Guilty Verdict

Youths in a confrontation with military personnel on Bloody Sunday
Protesters in a confrontation with British soldiers on Bloody Sunday

Sunday 30 January 1972 is remembered as among the deadliest โ€“ and momentous โ€“ days during three decades of violence in Northern Ireland.

Throughout the area of the incident โ€“ the images of Bloody Sunday are visible on the buildings and embedded in public consciousness.

A civil rights march was held on a cold but bright afternoon in Derry.

The march was challenging the system of detention without trial โ€“ imprisoning people without legal proceedings โ€“ which had been implemented in response to three years of violence.

Fr Edward Daly waved a bloodied fabric as he tried to defend a group transporting a young man, the fatally wounded youth
Father Daly waved a bloodied fabric as he tried to shield a assembly carrying a youth, Jackie Duddy

Troops from the specialized division killed multiple civilians in the neighborhood โ€“ which was, and continues to be, a overwhelmingly Irish nationalist population.

One image became particularly prominent.

Photographs showed a clergyman, Father Daly, displaying a blood-stained cloth while attempting to shield a group moving a young man, the injured teenager, who had been mortally injured.

Media personnel recorded much footage on the day.

Historical records includes Father Daly telling a journalist that military personnel "appeared to fire in all directions" and he was "completely sure" that there was no reason for the shooting.

Individuals in the neighborhood being marched towards detention by military personnel on Bloody Sunday
Individuals in the neighborhood being taken to arrest by military personnel on Bloody Sunday

The narrative of what happened wasn't accepted by the first inquiry.

The first investigation concluded the Army had been fired upon initially.

During the peace process, Tony Blair's government established a fresh examination, after campaigning by bereaved relatives, who said the initial inquiry had been a inadequate investigation.

In 2010, the findings by the investigation said that on balance, the paratroopers had fired first and that zero among the individuals had posed any threat.

The contemporary Prime Minister, the leader, apologised in the House of Commons โ€“ saying deaths were "unjustified and inexcusable."

Kin of the victims of the Bloody Sunday killings process from the Bogside area of Londonderry to the municipal center displaying pictures of their loved ones
Kin of the victims of the tragic event shootings walk from the district of Derry to the civic building holding pictures of their relatives

The police began to look into the matter.

An ex-soldier, identified as Soldier F, was brought to trial for killing.

Indictments were filed concerning the killings of James Wray, in his twenties, and twenty-six-year-old another victim.

The accused was further implicated of seeking to harm multiple individuals, other civilians, Joe Mahon, an additional individual, and an unidentified individual.

Remains a court ruling protecting the soldier's anonymity, which his lawyers have maintained is necessary because he is at risk of attack.

He told the Saville Inquiry that he had solely shot at people who were carrying weapons.

This assertion was dismissed in the concluding document.

Information from the investigation could not be used immediately as proof in the legal proceedings.

In court, the defendant was hidden from public behind a blue curtain.

He made statements for the first time in the proceedings at a session in December 2024, to answer "innocent" when the allegations were read.

Kin and advocates of the victims on the incident carry a placard and photos of the victims
Kin and supporters of those killed on that day hold a sign and images of those killed

Kin of those who were killed on Bloody Sunday journeyed from Londonderry to Belfast Crown Court each day of the proceedings.

A family member, whose sibling was fatally wounded, said they always knew that listening to the case would be painful.

"I can see the events in my memory," he said, as we walked around the key areas discussed in the proceedings โ€“ from the street, where his brother was shot dead, to the nearby the area, where one victim and William McKinney were died.

"It even takes me back to my position that day.

"I helped to carry the victim and place him in the vehicle.

"I went through every moment during the proceedings.

"Notwithstanding enduring all that โ€“ it's still meaningful for me."

One victim (left) and William McKinney (right) were included who were died on Bloody Sunday
David Morales
David Morales

An avid mountaineer and gear enthusiast with over a decade of experience in outdoor adventures and product testing.