The Way this Prosecution of a Former Soldier Over Bloody Sunday Concluded in Acquittal
Sunday 30 January 1972 is remembered as among the most fatal – and significant – dates throughout multiple decades of conflict in this area.
Within the community where events unfolded – the images of the tragic events are displayed on the walls and embedded in collective memory.
A civil rights march was conducted on a cold but bright afternoon in Londonderry.
The protest was challenging the policy of internment – imprisoning people without legal proceedings – which had been established following multiple years of unrest.
Military personnel from the elite army unit fatally wounded thirteen individuals in the district – which was, and continues to be, a strongly republican community.
A particular photograph became notably prominent.
Photographs showed a religious figure, Fr Edward Daly, waving a blood-stained fabric as he tried to protect a crowd transporting a teenager, the injured teenager, who had been mortally injured.
News camera operators recorded extensive video on the day.
Historical records features Fr Daly telling a journalist that soldiers "just seemed to shoot indiscriminately" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no reason for the discharge of weapons.
This account of events was rejected by the original examination.
The initial inquiry found the soldiers had been attacked first.
In the peace process, Tony Blair's government commissioned a fresh examination, in response to advocacy by family members, who said the first investigation had been a inadequate investigation.
During 2010, the findings by Lord Saville said that on balance, the paratroopers had initiated shooting and that zero among the victims had presented danger.
The then government leader, the leader, expressed regret in the Parliament – declaring killings were "without justification and unacceptable."
Law enforcement commenced look into the matter.
An ex-soldier, referred to as the defendant, was charged for murder.
Accusations were made concerning the deaths of one victim, in his twenties, and twenty-six-year-old William McKinney.
Soldier F was also accused of seeking to harm Patrick O'Donnell, Joseph Friel, more people, an additional individual, and an unidentified individual.
There is a judicial decision preserving the defendant's identity protection, which his legal team have claimed is necessary because he is at danger.
He testified the examination that he had only fired at persons who were armed.
This assertion was dismissed in the final report.
Evidence from the examination could not be used straightforwardly as proof in the legal proceedings.
In the dock, the accused was shielded from sight using a privacy screen.
He made statements for the first time in the proceedings at a proceeding in late 2024, to reply "not guilty" when the accusations were put to him.
Kin of the victims on that day travelled from Londonderry to Belfast Crown Court daily of the trial.
A family member, whose relative was killed, said they were aware that listening to the proceedings would be emotional.
"I visualize the events in my memory," the relative said, as we visited the main locations mentioned in the trial – from the street, where his brother was shot dead, to the adjoining the courtyard, where one victim and another victim were died.
"It reminds me to where I was that day.
"I helped to carry Michael and put him in the medical transport.
"I relived the entire event during the evidence.
"Despite experiencing everything – it's still meaningful for me."
