How this Legal Case of an Army Veteran Regarding the 1972 Londonderry Incident Ended in Not Guilty Verdict

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

Sunday 30 January 1972 remains among the most fatal – and momentous – occasions throughout thirty years of violence in this area.

In the streets of the incident – the images of the tragic events are displayed on the structures and etched in people's minds.

A protest demonstration was conducted on a wintry, sunny period in the city.

The protest was challenging the practice of internment – imprisoning people without trial – which had been implemented in response to three years of violence.

Father Daly used a white cloth stained with blood in an effort to defend a assembly carrying a youth, Jackie Duddy
A Catholic priest waved a blood-stained handkerchief as he tried to defend a assembly transporting a youth, the fatally wounded youth

Troops from the Parachute Regiment killed 13 people in the Bogside area – which was, and continues to be, a strongly Irish nationalist population.

One image became especially memorable.

Photographs showed a Catholic priest, the priest, displaying a bloodied cloth in his effort to defend a assembly carrying a youth, the injured teenager, who had been fatally wounded.

News camera operators recorded considerable film on the day.

Documented accounts contains Father Daly informing a reporter that military personnel "appeared to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no provocation for the discharge of weapons.

Protesters in the neighborhood being directed to arrest by military personnel on Bloody Sunday
Protesters in the district being marched towards arrest by British troops on Bloody Sunday

The narrative of events was rejected by the first inquiry.

The Widgery Tribunal concluded the soldiers had been fired upon initially.

During the resolution efforts, the ruling party set up another inquiry, in response to advocacy by surviving kin, who said Widgery had been a cover-up.

That year, the findings by the investigation said that generally, the paratroopers had discharged weapons initially and that not one of the victims had been armed.

The contemporary Prime Minister, David Cameron, issued an apology in the House of Commons – declaring deaths were "without justification and inexcusable."

Families of the victims of the Bloody Sunday fatalities process from the district of Londonderry to the municipal center carrying pictures of their relatives
Relatives of the casualties of the 1972 incident killings process from the neighborhood of Londonderry to the Guildhall displaying photographs of their family members

Authorities commenced examine the incident.

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

Indictments were filed regarding the killings of the first individual, twenty-two, and 26-year-old William McKinney.

The accused was further implicated of seeking to harm Patrick O'Donnell, additional persons, more people, an additional individual, and an unnamed civilian.

Remains a court ruling preserving the veteran's identity protection, which his lawyers have maintained is essential because he is at danger.

He stated to the Saville Inquiry that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at persons who were possessing firearms.

This assertion was dismissed in the official findings.

Information from the examination could not be used immediately as evidence in the court case.

In the dock, the veteran was shielded from sight using a privacy screen.

He made statements for the opening instance in the hearing at a hearing in late 2024, to reply "innocent" when the accusations were put to him.

Relatives and advocates of the victims on the incident hold a banner and images of the deceased
Kin and advocates of those killed on Bloody Sunday carry a placard and photos of the deceased

Kin of the deceased on that day travelled from the city to the judicial building daily of the trial.

John Kelly, whose relative was killed, said they always knew that attending the case would be difficult.

"I visualize all details in my mind's eye," the relative said, as we walked around the main locations mentioned in the case – from the street, where his brother was shot dead, to the nearby the courtyard, where one victim and the second person were fatally wounded.

"It reminds me to my location that day.

"I helped to carry the victim and place him in the medical transport.

"I relived each detail during the testimony.

"But even with having to go through all that – it's still meaningful for me."

James Wray (left) and William McKinney (right) were part of who were died on Bloody Sunday
Justin Hart
Justin Hart

A passionate sports journalist with over a decade of experience covering local and international events in Rome.