How the Prosecution of a Former Soldier Regarding Bloody Sunday Concluded in Acquittal
January 30th, 1972 remains one of the most fatal – and significant – occasions in three decades of conflict in this area.
In the streets where it happened – the legacy of the tragic events are visible on the buildings and seared in people's minds.
A protest demonstration was organized on a wintry, sunny period in Derry.
The demonstration was challenging the policy of detention without trial – holding suspects without legal proceedings – which had been put in place in response to an extended period of conflict.
Soldiers from the Parachute Regiment killed 13 people in the neighborhood – which was, and remains, a predominantly republican area.
A specific visual became especially memorable.
Images showed a clergyman, Father Daly, waving a stained with blood white handkerchief as he tried to defend a crowd carrying a youth, Jackie Duddy, who had been fatally wounded.
Media personnel recorded extensive video on the day.
Historical records features the priest informing a media representative that military personnel "just seemed to fire in all directions" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no provocation for the shooting.
The narrative of the incident wasn't accepted by the original examination.
The Widgery Tribunal found the military had been attacked first.
During the negotiation period, the ruling party established a fresh examination, after campaigning by bereaved relatives, who said Widgery had been a whitewash.
In 2010, the conclusion by the investigation said that overall, the military personnel had fired first and that not one of the individuals had presented danger.
The then government leader, the leader, issued an apology in the Parliament – declaring killings were "improper and unjustifiable."
Authorities commenced investigate the events.
An ex-soldier, known as Soldier F, was prosecuted for murder.
He was charged over the killings of the first individual, twenty-two, and in his mid-twenties William McKinney.
Soldier F was further implicated of trying to kill multiple individuals, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon, an additional individual, and an unnamed civilian.
Exists a judicial decision preserving the soldier's identity protection, which his attorneys have argued is essential because he is at risk of attack.
He stated to the Saville Inquiry that he had only fired at individuals who were armed.
The statement was rejected in the concluding document.
Material from the inquiry was unable to be used directly as proof in the legal proceedings.
In the dock, the veteran was screened from view behind a protective barrier.
He spoke for the first time in the hearing at a proceeding in late 2024, to answer "innocent" when the accusations were presented.
Family members of the deceased on Bloody Sunday made the trip from the city to the judicial building daily of the case.
A family member, whose brother Michael was killed, said they were aware that attending the case would be painful.
"I can see everything in my recollection," John said, as we visited the key areas mentioned in the proceedings – from Rossville Street, where the victim was killed, to the adjacent the area, where one victim and William McKinney were died.
"It returns me to my location that day.
"I helped to carry Michael and place him in the vehicle.
"I went through every moment during the proceedings.
"But even with enduring everything – it's still valuable for me."
