How the Trial of a Former Soldier Over the 1972 Londonderry Incident Concluded in Acquittal

Youths in a confrontation with British soldiers on Bloody Sunday
Protesters in a stand-off with military personnel on Bloody Sunday

Sunday 30 January 1972 stands as among the deadliest – and significant – occasions during three decades of unrest in this area.

Throughout the area where it happened – the memories of the tragic events are displayed on the buildings and etched in people's minds.

A civil rights march was conducted on a wintry, sunny period in the city.

The protest was opposing the system of imprisonment without charges – detaining individuals without legal proceedings – which had been put in place in response to three years of unrest.

Fr Edward Daly waved a bloodied fabric in an effort to protect a crowd carrying a young man, the fatally wounded youth
A Catholic priest displayed a bloodied fabric as he tried to shield a group carrying a teenager, the fatally wounded youth

Soldiers from the specialized division killed thirteen individuals in the neighborhood – which was, and remains, a overwhelmingly republican area.

One image became especially prominent.

Photographs showed a religious figure, Father Daly, displaying a stained with blood cloth while attempting to protect a crowd moving a youth, Jackie Duddy, who had been fatally wounded.

News camera operators documented much footage on the day.

The archive features Fr Daly informing a journalist that military personnel "appeared to fire in all directions" and he was "completely sure" that there was no reason for the gunfire.

Protesters in the Bogside area being directed to detention by soldiers on Bloody Sunday
Protesters in the neighborhood being marched towards custody by soldiers on Bloody Sunday

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

The Widgery Tribunal determined the soldiers had been attacked first.

Throughout the resolution efforts, the ruling party commissioned another inquiry, following pressure by family members, who said the initial inquiry had been a cover-up.

That year, the findings by the investigation said that overall, the paratroopers had discharged weapons initially and that none of the individuals had posed any threat.

The then head of state, the leader, expressed regret in the government chamber – saying killings were "without justification and unacceptable."

Relatives of the victims of the Bloody Sunday killings walk from the Bogside area of Derry to the civic building displaying pictures of their family members
Relatives of the deceased of the 1972 incident killings march from the Bogside area of Derry to the Guildhall holding images of their family members

Law enforcement started to examine the matter.

One former paratrooper, identified as the accused, was brought to trial for homicide.

Indictments were filed regarding the killings of the first individual, 22, and twenty-six-year-old the second individual.

Soldier F was additionally charged of attempting to murder several people, additional persons, more people, an additional individual, and an unidentified individual.

Remains a court ruling maintaining the veteran's privacy, which his lawyers have claimed is necessary because he is at threat.

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

This assertion was rejected in the concluding document.

Evidence from the investigation was unable to be used directly as proof in the criminal process.

During the trial, the veteran was shielded from sight with a privacy screen.

He addressed the court for the opening instance in the hearing at a session in that month, to reply "innocent" when the charges were presented.

Family members and supporters of the victims on that day carry a placard and photographs of the deceased
Kin and allies of the victims on the incident display a sign and images of the victims

Relatives of those who were killed on the incident made the trip from the city to the judicial building daily of the trial.

One relative, whose relative was died, said they always knew that attending the case would be emotional.

"I can see everything in my memory," the relative said, as we examined the primary sites mentioned in the proceedings – from the street, where his brother was fatally wounded, to the adjoining the courtyard, where one victim and another victim were died.

"It returns me to where I was that day.

"I participated in moving my brother and lay him in the medical transport.

"I went through the entire event during the testimony.

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

James Wray (left) and Another victim (right) were part of who were killed on Bloody Sunday
Michael Pearson
Michael Pearson

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