The Way the Prosecution of a Former Soldier Regarding Bloody Sunday Concluded in Not Guilty Verdict

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

January 30th, 1972 stands as arguably the deadliest – and significant – dates throughout three decades of conflict in this area.

In the streets where it happened – the images of Bloody Sunday are painted on the walls and embedded in people's minds.

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

The march was opposing the system of imprisonment without charges – imprisoning people without trial – which had been put in place in response to multiple years of conflict.

Fr Edward Daly waved a blood-stained handkerchief while attempting to defend a crowd carrying a youth, Jackie Duddy
A Catholic priest used a white cloth stained with blood as he tried to shield a assembly transporting a teenager, the injured teenager

Military personnel from the specialized division fatally wounded multiple civilians in the neighborhood – which was, and continues to be, a overwhelmingly Irish nationalist area.

A specific visual became particularly iconic.

Pictures showed a clergyman, Father Daly, displaying a stained with blood white handkerchief in his effort to protect a crowd carrying a young man, the injured teenager, who had been mortally injured.

Media personnel documented extensive video on the day.

Historical records features the priest explaining to a journalist that troops "appeared to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no reason for the discharge of weapons.

Individuals in the district being taken to custody by soldiers on Bloody Sunday
Protesters in the district being taken to detention by British troops on Bloody Sunday

The narrative of what happened was disputed by the initial investigation.

The Widgery Tribunal found the soldiers had been attacked first.

Throughout the peace process, the ruling party commissioned a new investigation, following pressure by family members, who said Widgery had been a whitewash.

That year, the conclusion by Lord Saville said that overall, the paratroopers had initiated shooting and that not one of the victims had posed any threat.

At that time government leader, the Prime Minister, apologised in the government chamber – saying fatalities were "without justification and inexcusable."

Families of the deceased of the 1972 incident shootings walk from the neighborhood of Londonderry to the civic building holding pictures of their loved ones
Kin of the deceased of the tragic event fatalities march from the neighborhood of Londonderry to the municipal center carrying images of their family members

Authorities started to examine the matter.

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

He was charged concerning the killings of one victim, in his twenties, and in his mid-twenties the second individual.

The accused was also accused of trying to kill several people, other civilians, more people, another person, and an unnamed civilian.

Remains a court ruling maintaining the soldier's anonymity, which his legal team have maintained is necessary because he is at danger.

He testified the investigation that he had solely shot at individuals who were possessing firearms.

The statement was disputed in the final report.

Evidence from the investigation could not be used straightforwardly as testimony in the court case.

In court, the accused was shielded from sight with a blue curtain.

He spoke for the opening instance in court at a hearing in late 2024, to answer "not guilty" when the charges were presented.

Family members and allies of those killed on the incident display a banner and photographs of those killed
Family members and allies of those killed on that day display a placard and images of those killed

Relatives of the deceased on Bloody Sunday made the trip from Derry to Belfast Crown Court each day of the proceedings.

John Kelly, whose brother Michael was died, said they understood that attending the case would be painful.

"I remember the events in my recollection," the relative said, as we visited the key areas discussed in the proceedings – from the street, where his brother was shot dead, to the adjacent the courtyard, where one victim and another victim were died.

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

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

"I experienced again each detail during the evidence.

"Notwithstanding experiencing the process – it's still valuable for me."

James Wray (left) and William McKinney (right) were among those who were killed on Bloody Sunday
Sean Harvey
Sean Harvey

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