How this Prosecution of a Former Soldier Regarding the 1972 Londonderry Incident Ended in Case Dismissal
Sunday 30 January 1972 stands as one of the most fatal – and significant – dates in multiple decades of conflict in Northern Ireland.
Throughout the area where it happened – the memories of the tragic events are painted on the buildings and embedded in public consciousness.
A protest demonstration was organized on a cold but bright afternoon in the city.
The protest was challenging the practice of imprisonment without charges – holding suspects without due process – which had been put in place after three years of violence.
Military personnel from the elite army unit shot dead thirteen individuals in the district – which was, and continues to be, a predominantly Irish nationalist community.
A specific visual became notably memorable.
Images showed a Catholic priest, Fr Edward Daly, waving a stained with blood cloth while attempting to shield a crowd carrying a young man, the injured teenager, who had been mortally injured.
News camera operators recorded considerable film on the day.
Historical records contains the priest informing a reporter that soldiers "just seemed to fire in all directions" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no reason for the discharge of weapons.
That version of the incident was rejected by the first inquiry.
The Widgery Tribunal found the Army had been attacked first.
Throughout the peace process, Tony Blair's government set up a fresh examination, following pressure by family members, who said Widgery had been a whitewash.
In 2010, the findings by Lord Saville said that on balance, the soldiers had fired first and that none of the casualties had been armed.
The contemporary head of state, David Cameron, issued an apology in the government chamber – declaring fatalities were "improper and unacceptable."
The police commenced investigate the incident.
One former paratrooper, referred to as the accused, was charged for killing.
He was charged regarding the killings of one victim, 22, and twenty-six-year-old William McKinney.
Soldier F was further implicated of trying to kill Patrick O'Donnell, Joseph Friel, more people, another person, and an unknown person.
There is a court ruling preserving the soldier's identity protection, which his attorneys have claimed is required because he is at danger.
He testified the investigation that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at persons who were carrying weapons.
This assertion was disputed in the concluding document.
Material from the examination would not be used straightforwardly as evidence in the legal proceedings.
In the dock, the defendant was screened from view behind a protective barrier.
He made statements for the initial occasion in court at a proceeding in late 2024, to respond "innocent" when the allegations were read.
Family members of the deceased on Bloody Sunday travelled from the city to the courthouse every day of the proceedings.
One relative, whose brother Michael was fatally wounded, said they were aware that hearing the case would be emotional.
"I remember all details in my memory," John said, as we examined the key areas discussed in the proceedings – from the street, where the victim was fatally wounded, to the adjacent the courtyard, where one victim and the second person were killed.
"It returns me to where I was that day.
"I participated in moving my brother and lay him in the ambulance.
"I experienced again each detail during the evidence.
"Notwithstanding experiencing everything – it's still worthwhile for me."