The Way this Trial of a Former Soldier Regarding the 1972 Londonderry Incident Ended in Not Guilty Verdict

Protesters in a stand-off with army troops on Bloody Sunday
Youths in a stand-off with British soldiers on Bloody Sunday

January 30th, 1972 is remembered as one of the most deadly – and significant – dates throughout thirty years of unrest in this area.

Throughout the area where events unfolded – the images of the tragic events are displayed on the walls and embedded in people's minds.

A public gathering was organized on a wintry, sunny period in Derry.

The march was challenging the practice of imprisonment without charges – imprisoning people without legal proceedings – which had been established in response to multiple years of violence.

Father Daly used a white cloth stained with blood while attempting to shield a crowd transporting a youth, the injured teenager
Fr Edward Daly used a bloodied fabric as he tried to defend a crowd moving a young man, the injured teenager

Military personnel from the Parachute Regiment shot dead 13 people in the district – which was, and remains, a overwhelmingly Irish nationalist area.

A specific visual became especially prominent.

Photographs showed a religious figure, Father Daly, waving a bloodied cloth as he tried to shield a crowd moving a youth, the fatally wounded individual, who had been fatally wounded.

Journalists documented extensive video on the day.

Historical records features Father Daly informing a media representative that military personnel "just seemed to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no reason for the gunfire.

Protesters in the Bogside area being directed to custody by British troops on Bloody Sunday
Civilians in the neighborhood being directed to detention by soldiers on Bloody Sunday

This account of the incident wasn't accepted by the initial investigation.

The Widgery Tribunal found the Army had been fired upon initially.

Throughout the peace process, Tony Blair's government established a fresh examination, in response to advocacy by surviving kin, who said the initial inquiry had been a cover-up.

During 2010, the report by the inquiry said that overall, the soldiers had discharged weapons initially and that none of the individuals had posed any threat.

The then head of state, the leader, apologised in the House of Commons – saying killings were "unjustified and unjustifiable."

Kin of the victims of the tragic event fatalities walk from the neighborhood of Londonderry to the civic building carrying images of their loved ones
Kin of the victims of the tragic event killings march from the Bogside area of the city to the civic building holding photographs of their relatives

Authorities began to examine the incident.

A military veteran, identified as Soldier F, was prosecuted for killing.

He was charged over the fatalities of one victim, in his twenties, and in his mid-twenties another victim.

The accused was further implicated of trying to kill Patrick O'Donnell, Joseph Friel, more people, an additional individual, and an unidentified individual.

Exists a court ruling protecting the defendant's anonymity, which his attorneys have maintained is necessary because he is at risk of attack.

He testified the investigation that he had solely shot at people who were armed.

That claim was dismissed in the official findings.

Evidence from the examination was unable to be used directly as evidence in the legal proceedings.

In the dock, the accused was shielded from sight behind a privacy screen.

He addressed the court for the initial occasion in court at a session in December 2024, to answer "not guilty" when the allegations were put to him.

Family members and allies of the deceased on that day display a placard and images of the deceased
Kin and allies of the victims on the incident carry a placard and photos of those killed

Kin of those who were killed on that day journeyed from Derry to Belfast Crown Court every day of the case.

John Kelly, whose relative was died, said they always knew that listening to the case would be painful.

"I visualize all details in my mind's eye," the relative said, as we walked around the primary sites referenced in the case – from the location, where the victim was killed, to the adjacent Glenfada Park, where the individual and the second person were killed.

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

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

"I went through each detail during the testimony.

"Notwithstanding having to go through everything – it's still valuable for me."

One victim (left) and Another victim (right) were included who were killed on Bloody Sunday
Joshua Hall
Joshua Hall

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