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

Youths in a tense situation with military personnel on Bloody Sunday
Youths in a stand-off with military personnel on Bloody Sunday

Sunday 30 January 1972 remains among the deadliest – and consequential – dates in thirty years of conflict in this area.

Throughout the area where it happened – the memories of the tragic events are painted on the structures and seared in people's minds.

A civil rights march was held on a wintry, sunny afternoon in the city.

The demonstration was challenging the system of imprisonment without charges – imprisoning people without trial – which had been put in place after three years of conflict.

Father Daly displayed a white cloth stained with blood while attempting to defend a assembly carrying a young man, the fatally wounded youth
Father Daly used a white cloth stained with blood as he tried to protect a crowd transporting a young man, Jackie Duddy

Military personnel from the Parachute Regiment killed 13 people in the neighborhood – which was, and continues to be, a strongly nationalist community.

A specific visual became notably iconic.

Pictures showed a Catholic priest, the priest, using a bloodied white handkerchief while attempting to defend a crowd transporting a young man, the fatally wounded individual, who had been killed.

Media personnel captured considerable film on the day.

Historical records includes Fr Daly informing a reporter that troops "gave the impression they would fire in all directions" and he was "completely sure" that there was no provocation for the discharge of weapons.

Protesters in the neighborhood being taken to arrest by military personnel on Bloody Sunday
Civilians in the Bogside area being directed to detention by soldiers on Bloody Sunday

That version of what happened was disputed by the initial investigation.

The initial inquiry concluded the soldiers had been fired upon initially.

In the resolution efforts, the ruling party commissioned a fresh examination, after campaigning by surviving kin, who said the first investigation had been a whitewash.

That year, the findings by the investigation said that generally, the military personnel had fired first and that not one of the individuals had posed any threat.

The then Prime Minister, David Cameron, apologised in the government chamber – declaring fatalities were "unjustified and unacceptable."

Relatives of the casualties of the 1972 incident shootings walk from the Bogside area of Londonderry to the municipal center displaying photographs of their relatives
Families of the casualties of the tragic event shootings march from the district of Londonderry to the civic building holding photographs of their family members

The police commenced examine the events.

One former paratrooper, identified as Soldier F, was brought to trial for killing.

He was charged over the killings of one victim, 22, and in his mid-twenties William McKinney.

The defendant was additionally charged of trying to kill multiple individuals, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon, another person, and an unidentified individual.

Remains a court ruling protecting the soldier's privacy, which his legal team have claimed is necessary because he is at risk of attack.

He told the Saville Inquiry that he had solely shot at individuals who were carrying weapons.

That claim was rejected in the concluding document.

Information from the inquiry could not be used directly as evidence in the court case.

In the dock, the defendant was screened from view with a protective barrier.

He made statements for the opening instance in the hearing at a hearing in December 2024, to respond "not responsible" when the allegations were read.

Family members and allies of the deceased on the incident carry a banner and photos of the deceased
Kin and supporters of the victims on the incident carry a placard and photographs of those killed

Relatives of the victims on Bloody Sunday made the trip from Derry to the judicial building each day of the case.

John Kelly, whose brother Michael was killed, said they understood that listening to the trial would be painful.

"I remember all details in my mind's eye," John said, as we walked around the main locations referenced in the trial – from the location, where the victim was shot dead, to the adjoining Glenfada Park, where James Wray and the second person were fatally wounded.

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

"I participated in moving the victim and place him in the medical transport.

"I experienced again every moment during the proceedings.

"But even with having to go through everything – it's still meaningful for me."

One victim (left) and Another victim (right) were part of who were killed on Bloody Sunday
Brandon Cook
Brandon Cook

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