How this Prosecution of a Former Soldier Over the 1972 Londonderry Incident Concluded in Not Guilty Verdict

Youths in a tense situation with military personnel on Bloody Sunday
Protesters in a confrontation with military personnel on Bloody Sunday

Sunday 30 January 1972 remains one of the most fatal – and significant – dates in multiple decades of unrest in the region.

Within the community where it happened – the legacy of Bloody Sunday are visible on the structures and seared in people's minds.

A protest demonstration was held on a cold but bright day in Londonderry.

The march was a protest against the system of internment – detaining individuals without due process – which had been implemented following an extended period of unrest.

Fr Edward Daly used a blood-stained handkerchief in an effort to defend a crowd transporting a youth, the injured teenager
A Catholic priest waved a blood-stained handkerchief as he tried to protect a assembly moving a teenager, the fatally wounded youth

Military personnel from the elite army unit shot dead 13 people in the Bogside area – which was, and remains, a strongly Irish nationalist population.

One image became particularly iconic.

Photographs showed a religious figure, the priest, using a stained with blood white handkerchief in his effort to protect a assembly carrying a teenager, Jackie Duddy, who had been killed.

Media personnel recorded much footage on the day.

Historical records features Father Daly telling a journalist that troops "just seemed to fire in all directions" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no provocation for the gunfire.

Civilians in the neighborhood being directed to detention by British troops on Bloody Sunday
Protesters in the district being directed to arrest by British troops on Bloody Sunday

This account of the incident was disputed by the initial investigation.

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

During the negotiation period, Tony Blair's government set up a new investigation, after campaigning by bereaved relatives, who said the first investigation had been a whitewash.

During 2010, the findings by the inquiry said that overall, the military personnel had initiated shooting and that none of the individuals had posed any threat.

The then head of state, the Prime Minister, apologised in the government chamber – declaring deaths were "unjustified and unacceptable."

Families of the casualties of the tragic event shootings process from the Bogside area of the city to the Guildhall displaying images of their relatives
Relatives of the casualties of the Bloody Sunday killings process from the Bogside area of Londonderry to the civic building displaying pictures of their relatives

The police started to look into the incident.

A military veteran, known as the accused, was brought to trial for murder.

He was charged over the fatalities of one victim, in his twenties, and twenty-six-year-old another victim.

The defendant was further implicated of attempting to murder Patrick O'Donnell, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon, an additional individual, and an unknown person.

Exists a judicial decision maintaining the veteran's identity protection, which his legal team have claimed is essential because he is at danger.

He testified the Saville Inquiry that he had only fired at people who were possessing firearms.

This assertion was rejected in the final report.

Material from the examination would not be used straightforwardly as proof in the court case.

In court, the defendant was hidden from public with a blue curtain.

He made statements for the opening instance in the proceedings at a session in that month, to respond "not guilty" when the accusations were presented.

Family members and supporters of the victims on the incident carry a sign and photographs of the victims
Family members and allies of the deceased on the incident display a placard and images of the deceased

Kin of the deceased on that day travelled from Londonderry to Belfast Crown Court each day of the trial.

John Kelly, whose sibling was fatally wounded, said they always knew that hearing the trial would be difficult.

"I visualize everything in my mind's eye," he said, as we examined the primary sites discussed in the proceedings – from the location, where Michael was shot dead, to the adjacent Glenfada Park, where one victim and the second person were died.

"It reminds me to where I was that day.

"I helped to carry Michael and put him in the vehicle.

"I relived the entire event during the evidence.

"Notwithstanding enduring all that – it's still valuable for me."

James Wray (left) and William McKinney (right) were included who were killed on the incident
Karen Hawkins
Karen Hawkins

A dedicated cat advocate and writer based in Toronto, sharing years of experience in feline care and rescue.