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

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

Sunday 30 January 1972 remains one of the most deadly – and momentous – dates in three decades of unrest in the region.

Throughout the area of the incident – the memories of Bloody Sunday are painted on the buildings and seared in people's minds.

A public gathering was held on a chilly yet clear afternoon in Derry.

The protest was challenging the policy of imprisonment without charges – holding suspects without trial – which had been put in place after three years of violence.

Father Daly displayed a white cloth stained with blood in an effort to shield a crowd moving a teenager, the fatally wounded youth
A Catholic priest waved a bloodied fabric in an effort to defend a group moving a youth, the fatally wounded youth

Troops from the elite army unit killed thirteen individuals in the neighborhood – which was, and continues to be, a strongly republican area.

One image became especially iconic.

Images showed a religious figure, Father Daly, displaying a bloodied cloth in his effort to defend a assembly transporting a young man, the fatally wounded individual, who had been mortally injured.

Journalists captured extensive video on the day.

The archive features the priest explaining to a journalist that troops "gave the impression they would fire in all directions" and he was "completely sure" that there was no justification for the shooting.

Civilians in the neighborhood being directed to detention by British troops on Bloody Sunday
Individuals in the neighborhood being marched towards custody by military personnel on Bloody Sunday

The narrative of the incident wasn't accepted by the original examination.

The first investigation determined the Army had been fired upon initially.

During the peace process, Tony Blair's government established a new investigation, after campaigning by surviving kin, who said the initial inquiry had been a inadequate investigation.

That year, the findings by the investigation said that overall, the military personnel had initiated shooting and that zero among the victims had presented danger.

The contemporary Prime Minister, the Prime Minister, issued an apology in the House of Commons – saying killings were "without justification and unjustifiable."

Kin of the casualties of the Bloody Sunday shootings process from the neighborhood of the city to the civic building carrying photographs of their loved ones
Kin of the casualties of the 1972 incident shootings march from the neighborhood of Londonderry to the civic building holding images of their family members

The police began to look into the incident.

One former paratrooper, referred to as Soldier F, was brought to trial for homicide.

Indictments were filed regarding the killings of James Wray, 22, and 26-year-old the second individual.

The accused was additionally charged of seeking to harm multiple individuals, additional persons, further individuals, an additional individual, and an unknown person.

Exists a court ruling maintaining the defendant's privacy, which his attorneys have claimed is essential because he is at risk of attack.

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

This assertion was rejected in the official findings.

Material from the inquiry would not be used directly as evidence in the criminal process.

In court, the accused was hidden from public using a protective barrier.

He spoke for the opening instance in the proceedings at a hearing in December 2024, to reply "innocent" when the allegations were put to him.

Relatives and allies of those killed on that day carry a placard and photos of the victims
Relatives and supporters of the deceased on the incident hold a placard and photographs of the victims

Kin of the deceased on the incident journeyed from Derry to the judicial building each day of the proceedings.

John Kelly, whose relative was killed, said they were aware that attending the trial would be difficult.

"I remember all details in my recollection," the relative said, as we walked around the key areas discussed in the proceedings – from the location, where the victim was killed, to the nearby the area, where one victim and another victim were fatally wounded.

"It even takes me back to my position that day.

"I assisted with the victim and place him in the vehicle.

"I went through the entire event during the testimony.

"Despite experiencing the process – it's still meaningful for me."

One victim (left) and William McKinney (right) were included who were died on the incident
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