How this Prosecution of a Former Soldier Over the 1972 Londonderry Incident Concluded in Acquittal
January 30th, 1972 is remembered as arguably the deadliest – and consequential – dates throughout thirty years of unrest in the region.
Throughout the area where it happened – the legacy of Bloody Sunday are displayed on the structures and embedded in people's minds.
A public gathering was conducted on a cold but bright day in the city.
The march was challenging the practice of imprisonment without charges – imprisoning people without legal proceedings – which had been established following an extended period of violence.
Soldiers from the elite army unit fatally wounded 13 people in the district – which was, and still is, a predominantly nationalist population.
One image became notably iconic.
Photographs showed a Catholic priest, Father Daly, waving a blood-stained fabric as he tried to defend a assembly transporting a teenager, Jackie Duddy, who had been killed.
Media personnel captured considerable film on the day.
Historical records contains the priest telling a reporter that soldiers "just seemed to shoot indiscriminately" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no provocation for the shooting.
That version of events was disputed by the initial investigation.
The initial inquiry determined the military had been shot at first.
During the negotiation period, the administration established another inquiry, in response to advocacy by surviving kin, who said the initial inquiry had been a inadequate investigation.
That year, the report by Lord Saville said that overall, the soldiers had discharged weapons initially and that not one of the casualties had been armed.
At that time head of state, the Prime Minister, issued an apology in the Parliament – saying deaths were "improper and inexcusable."
Law enforcement began to investigate the incident.
A military veteran, known as the accused, was brought to trial for murder.
Accusations were made regarding the deaths of one victim, 22, and in his mid-twenties the second individual.
Soldier F was further implicated of attempting to murder multiple individuals, Joseph Friel, further individuals, Michael Quinn, and an unidentified individual.
There is a legal order protecting the veteran's privacy, which his lawyers have argued is required because he is at risk of attack.
He stated to the investigation that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at persons who were carrying weapons.
This assertion was dismissed in the concluding document.
Material from the inquiry would not be used directly as testimony in the court case.
During the trial, the defendant was shielded from sight using a privacy screen.
He addressed the court for the initial occasion in the hearing at a proceeding in December 2024, to respond "innocent" when the accusations were presented.
Family members of the victims on the incident journeyed from the city to the judicial building each day of the case.
John Kelly, whose sibling was killed, said they understood that attending the proceedings would be difficult.
"I remember everything in my recollection," John said, as we examined the primary sites mentioned in the trial – from the location, where the victim was killed, to the nearby the courtyard, where the individual and William McKinney were killed.
"It returns me to my location that day.
"I participated in moving my brother and place him in the medical transport.
"I went through the entire event during the proceedings.
"Notwithstanding enduring all that – it's still worthwhile for me."