How the Legal Case of a Former Soldier Over Bloody Sunday Ended in Acquittal
Sunday 30 January 1972 is remembered as among the deadliest – and momentous – days throughout multiple decades of unrest in Northern Ireland.
Throughout the area where events unfolded – the images of the tragic events are displayed on the structures and seared in people's minds.
A public gathering was organized on a chilly yet clear afternoon in Derry.
The protest was a protest against the practice of imprisonment without charges – imprisoning people without trial – which had been implemented following multiple years of conflict.
Military personnel from the Parachute Regiment killed multiple civilians in the neighborhood – which was, and continues to be, a overwhelmingly republican community.
One image became especially iconic.
Pictures showed a religious figure, Fr Edward Daly, displaying a blood-stained cloth while attempting to protect a crowd moving a youth, the injured teenager, who had been fatally wounded.
News camera operators recorded much footage on the day.
Documented accounts features the priest explaining to a reporter that troops "appeared to fire in all directions" and he was "completely sure" that there was no reason for the discharge of weapons.
This account of the incident wasn't accepted by the initial investigation.
The Widgery Tribunal determined the soldiers had been shot at first.
During the peace process, the administration established a new investigation, following pressure by family members, who said the first investigation had been a whitewash.
That year, the findings by the inquiry said that on balance, the military personnel had fired first and that not one of the individuals had been armed.
The then head of state, David Cameron, expressed regret in the House of Commons – declaring deaths were "without justification and unacceptable."
Law enforcement started to look into the matter.
An ex-soldier, known as the defendant, was prosecuted for killing.
Accusations were made regarding the fatalities of one victim, twenty-two, and in his mid-twenties another victim.
Soldier F was additionally charged of trying to kill Patrick O'Donnell, other civilians, Joe Mahon, another person, and an unidentified individual.
There is a legal order maintaining the defendant's anonymity, which his legal team have argued is essential because he is at risk of attack.
He stated to the investigation that he had only fired at people who were possessing firearms.
The statement was rejected in the final report.
Material from the examination would not be used immediately as proof in the legal proceedings.
During the trial, the accused was shielded from sight using a blue curtain.
He addressed the court for the initial occasion in the proceedings at a hearing in that month, to reply "innocent" when the allegations were presented.
Family members of the deceased on that day made the trip from the city to the courthouse each day of the trial.
John Kelly, whose relative was died, said they understood that attending the trial would be painful.
"I visualize everything in my memory," the relative said, as we visited the key areas discussed in the case – from the street, where the victim was killed, to the adjoining the courtyard, where James Wray and the second person were killed.
"It even takes me back to my position that day.
"I assisted with my brother and lay him in the vehicle.
"I experienced again each detail during the evidence.
"But even with experiencing the process – it's still worthwhile for me."