How the Prosecution of a Former Soldier Over Bloody Sunday Concluded in Not Guilty Verdict

Youths in a stand-off with military personnel on Bloody Sunday
Protesters in a confrontation with army troops on Bloody Sunday

January 30th, 1972 remains among the most fatal – and significant – occasions in thirty years of unrest in Northern Ireland.

Throughout the area where events unfolded – the images of that fateful day are visible on the buildings and seared in people's minds.

A civil rights march was organized on a wintry, sunny day in Londonderry.

The demonstration was a protest against the policy of detention without trial – detaining individuals without due process – which had been put in place in response to an extended period of violence.

A Catholic priest displayed a blood-stained handkerchief as he tried to shield a group transporting a teenager, the fatally wounded youth
A Catholic priest displayed a bloodied fabric as he tried to defend a group transporting a youth, the injured teenager

Military personnel from the specialized division fatally wounded thirteen individuals in the Bogside area – which was, and still is, a strongly Irish nationalist area.

A specific visual became especially memorable.

Images showed a Catholic priest, Father Daly, using a blood-stained cloth as he tried to shield a crowd moving a youth, Jackie Duddy, who had been killed.

Media personnel recorded much footage on the day.

Historical records features Fr Daly explaining to a media representative that military personnel "just seemed to shoot indiscriminately" and he was "completely sure" that there was no reason for the discharge of weapons.

Civilians in the district being directed to arrest by soldiers on Bloody Sunday
Individuals in the district being marched towards detention by British troops on Bloody Sunday

The narrative of the incident was disputed by the first inquiry.

The initial inquiry concluded the military had been attacked first.

Throughout the negotiation period, the ruling party commissioned a fresh examination, following pressure by surviving kin, who said Widgery had been a inadequate investigation.

During 2010, the report by the investigation said that generally, the military personnel had discharged weapons initially and that none of the casualties had been armed.

The then head of state, the Prime Minister, issued an apology in the government chamber – saying fatalities were "unjustified and unacceptable."

Relatives of the deceased of the tragic event killings march from the district of Londonderry to the civic building holding pictures of their relatives
Relatives of the casualties of the tragic event fatalities process from the Bogside area of Derry to the civic building holding images of their relatives

The police commenced examine the events.

A military veteran, identified as Soldier F, was charged for murder.

He was charged regarding the fatalities of the first individual, twenty-two, and twenty-six-year-old the second individual.

The accused was further implicated of seeking to harm multiple individuals, additional persons, more people, another person, and an unknown person.

There is a legal order protecting the veteran's anonymity, which his attorneys have argued is necessary because he is at threat.

He stated to the investigation that he had only fired at persons who were armed.

That claim was dismissed in the final report.

Information from the investigation was unable to be used directly as evidence in the legal proceedings.

During the trial, the veteran was screened from view with a blue curtain.

He addressed the court for the initial occasion in the hearing at a session in that month, to answer "not guilty" when the allegations were read.

Family members and supporters of the deceased on the incident hold a banner and photographs of the deceased
Relatives and advocates of those killed on the incident display a banner and images of those killed

Relatives of those who were killed on Bloody Sunday journeyed from Derry to Belfast Crown Court daily of the proceedings.

John Kelly, whose sibling was fatally wounded, said they always knew that listening to the case would be emotional.

"I can see everything in my memory," John said, as we walked around the key areas referenced in the case – from the street, where the victim was killed, to the nearby Glenfada Park, where the individual and another victim were died.

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

"I helped to carry the victim and put him in the medical transport.

"I relived the entire event during the evidence.

"Notwithstanding experiencing everything – it's still meaningful for me."

James Wray (left) and William McKinney (right) were among those who were fatally wounded on the incident
Ryan Freeman
Ryan Freeman

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