How this Prosecution of a Former Soldier Regarding Bloody Sunday Ended in Acquittal
Sunday 30 January 1972 remains among the most deadly – and momentous – dates throughout three decades of conflict in Northern Ireland.
In the streets where it happened – the legacy of the tragic events are painted on the walls and embedded in collective memory.
A public gathering was conducted on a wintry, sunny period in the city.
The demonstration was challenging the system of detention without trial – detaining individuals without legal proceedings – which had been implemented after an extended period of unrest.
Soldiers from the Parachute Regiment shot dead 13 people in the Bogside area – which was, and remains, a overwhelmingly nationalist population.
One image became notably iconic.
Pictures showed a clergyman, Fr Edward Daly, using a stained with blood cloth in his effort to shield a assembly transporting a youth, the injured teenager, who had been killed.
Media personnel recorded much footage on the day.
The archive includes Fr Daly telling a reporter that soldiers "just seemed to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no justification for the gunfire.
The narrative of the incident was disputed by the first inquiry.
The initial inquiry determined the Army had been attacked first.
During the peace process, the administration commissioned a fresh examination, in response to advocacy by bereaved relatives, who said Widgery had been a whitewash.
That year, the conclusion by Lord Saville said that generally, the paratroopers had fired first and that none of the individuals had posed any threat.
The contemporary head of state, David Cameron, apologised in the Parliament – stating killings were "without justification and unjustifiable."
The police began to examine the events.
One former paratrooper, known as the defendant, was brought to trial for homicide.
Indictments were filed over the fatalities of the first individual, in his twenties, and 26-year-old William McKinney.
Soldier F was also accused of seeking to harm Patrick O'Donnell, additional persons, Joe Mahon, an additional individual, and an unidentified individual.
Remains a court ruling protecting the veteran's identity protection, which his attorneys have maintained is essential because he is at risk of attack.
He stated to the examination that he had only fired at individuals who were armed.
That claim was rejected in the concluding document.
Material from the examination would not be used straightforwardly as proof in the criminal process.
In the dock, the defendant was hidden from public behind a blue curtain.
He spoke for the first time in the proceedings at a session in December 2024, to reply "innocent" when the charges were read.
Relatives of the deceased on Bloody Sunday travelled from Londonderry to the courthouse daily of the trial.
One relative, whose relative was died, said they understood that listening to the trial would be emotional.
"I can see all details in my recollection," the relative said, as we examined the key areas discussed in the trial – from the location, where his brother was killed, to the nearby the courtyard, where the individual and another victim were killed.
"It returns me to where I was that day.
"I helped to carry my brother and put him in the medical transport.
"I relived the entire event during the proceedings.
"Despite enduring everything – it's still worthwhile for me."
