How the Legal Case of an Army Veteran Over Bloody Sunday Ended in Acquittal

Protesters in a confrontation with British soldiers on Bloody Sunday
Youths in a confrontation with army troops on Bloody Sunday

Sunday 30 January 1972 is remembered as one of the most fatal – and momentous – days throughout three decades of unrest in the region.

Within the community of the incident – the legacy of Bloody Sunday are painted on the buildings and etched in collective memory.

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

The demonstration was challenging the practice of imprisonment without charges – holding suspects without due process – which had been implemented in response to multiple years of violence.

Father Daly used a white cloth stained with blood as he tried to protect a assembly carrying a youth, the injured teenager
Father Daly waved a blood-stained handkerchief while attempting to protect a group moving a youth, the fatally wounded youth

Troops from the elite army unit fatally wounded 13 people in the district – which was, and continues to be, a strongly Irish nationalist population.

A specific visual became especially iconic.

Pictures showed a Catholic priest, the priest, displaying a stained with blood white handkerchief as he tried to shield a group transporting a youth, the injured teenager, who had been mortally injured.

News camera operators documented extensive video on the day.

Documented accounts features Fr Daly informing a reporter that soldiers "just seemed to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no provocation for the shooting.

Individuals in the district being taken to custody by British troops on Bloody Sunday
Protesters in the neighborhood being marched towards custody by military personnel on Bloody Sunday

That version of the incident wasn't accepted by the original examination.

The Widgery Tribunal determined the Army had been attacked first.

Throughout the peace process, the administration established a fresh examination, in response to advocacy by family members, who said the initial inquiry had been a whitewash.

That year, the report by the investigation said that overall, the paratroopers had initiated shooting and that zero among the individuals had posed any threat.

At that time Prime Minister, the leader, apologised in the Parliament – stating deaths were "improper and inexcusable."

Families of the casualties of the tragic event shootings process from the Bogside area of Londonderry to the Guildhall displaying photographs of their relatives
Relatives of the casualties of the tragic event fatalities march from the Bogside area of the city to the Guildhall carrying photographs of their relatives

Law enforcement started to look into the events.

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

Accusations were made concerning the killings of one victim, in his twenties, and twenty-six-year-old another victim.

Soldier F was also accused of seeking to harm Patrick O'Donnell, Joseph Friel, more people, an additional individual, and an unidentified individual.

Exists a court ruling preserving the defendant's privacy, which his attorneys have argued is necessary because he is at danger.

He testified the examination that he had only fired at persons who were carrying weapons.

The statement was dismissed in the official findings.

Material from the inquiry could not be used directly as testimony in the court case.

During the trial, the accused was hidden from public using a privacy screen.

He spoke for the first time in court at a hearing in December 2024, to answer "not responsible" when the charges were read.

Kin and allies of the deceased on the incident display a sign and photographs of the deceased
Kin and allies of those killed on that day display a placard and photographs of those killed

Family members of those who were killed on Bloody Sunday journeyed from the city to Belfast Crown Court each day of the case.

John Kelly, whose brother Michael was killed, said they were aware that hearing the trial would be emotional.

"I can see everything in my mind's eye," John said, as we walked around the main locations mentioned in the trial – from the street, where the victim was shot dead, to the adjacent the area, where the individual and another victim were died.

"It returns me to my location that day.

"I participated in moving the victim and lay him in the ambulance.

"I went through each detail during the evidence.

"But even with enduring everything – it's still worthwhile for me."

One victim (left) and William McKinney (right) were among those who were fatally wounded on the incident
Michelle Garcia
Michelle Garcia

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