The Way this Trial of a Former Soldier Over Bloody Sunday Ended in Acquittal
January 30th, 1972 is remembered as one of the deadliest – and significant – occasions throughout multiple decades of unrest in Northern Ireland.
Within the community where it happened – the images of that fateful day are displayed on the walls and embedded in people's minds.
A civil rights march was held on a wintry, sunny period in Derry.
The march was a protest against the policy of internment – detaining individuals without trial – which had been established in response to multiple years of unrest.
Troops from the specialized division shot dead 13 people in the district – which was, and remains, a overwhelmingly Irish nationalist community.
A particular photograph became notably prominent.
Photographs showed a religious figure, Father Daly, displaying a stained with blood cloth while attempting to shield a group moving a youth, Jackie Duddy, who had been fatally wounded.
News camera operators documented considerable film on the day.
Historical records includes the priest explaining to a media representative that troops "appeared to fire in all directions" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no reason for the gunfire.
This account of events wasn't accepted by the original examination.
The first investigation determined the Army had been shot at first.
Throughout the negotiation period, the ruling party set up a fresh examination, after campaigning by family members, who said Widgery had been a inadequate investigation.
In 2010, the findings by Lord Saville said that overall, the paratroopers had discharged weapons initially and that zero among the victims had posed any threat.
The then Prime Minister, David Cameron, issued an apology in the government chamber – saying deaths were "without justification and unjustifiable."
Law enforcement began to examine the events.
A military veteran, known as the defendant, was brought to trial for killing.
Indictments were filed regarding the fatalities of one victim, 22, and twenty-six-year-old the second individual.
Soldier F was further implicated of attempting to murder several people, additional persons, more people, an additional individual, and an unnamed civilian.
Remains a court ruling protecting the veteran's privacy, which his legal team have argued is required because he is at danger.
He testified the examination that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at people who were possessing firearms.
That claim was rejected in the final report.
Information from the inquiry could not be used straightforwardly as proof in the legal proceedings.
In court, the defendant was hidden from public using a protective barrier.
He addressed the court for the initial occasion in court at a hearing in late 2024, to answer "innocent" when the accusations were read.
Family members of the victims on the incident travelled from Londonderry to Belfast Crown Court every day of the trial.
John Kelly, whose brother Michael was killed, said they always knew that hearing the trial would be emotional.
"I remember all details in my recollection," John said, as we examined the main locations discussed in the trial – from the street, where the victim was shot dead, to the nearby the courtyard, where James Wray and William McKinney were fatally wounded.
"It even takes me back to where I was that day.
"I assisted with Michael and put him in the ambulance.
"I went through the entire event during the testimony.
"Notwithstanding having to go through the process – it's still valuable for me."
