How the Trial of a Former Soldier Over the 1972 Londonderry Incident Concluded in Not Guilty Verdict

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

Sunday 30 January 1972 remains among the deadliest – and momentous – days throughout three decades of violence in this area.

Throughout the area where it happened – the images of that fateful day are visible on the buildings and embedded in public consciousness.

A civil rights march was conducted on a chilly yet clear day in Londonderry.

The protest was challenging the policy of imprisonment without charges – detaining individuals without trial – which had been put in place following three years of unrest.

Fr Edward Daly displayed a blood-stained handkerchief as he tried to protect a group moving a youth, the fatally wounded youth
Father Daly used a bloodied fabric in an effort to defend a assembly moving a youth, the injured teenager

Troops from the Parachute Regiment fatally wounded thirteen individuals in the neighborhood – which was, and still is, a strongly nationalist area.

A specific visual became especially iconic.

Pictures showed a Catholic priest, the priest, using a bloodied white handkerchief in his effort to protect a crowd carrying a young man, the fatally wounded individual, who had been killed.

News camera operators captured extensive video on the day.

The archive includes Father Daly telling a reporter that soldiers "appeared to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no provocation for the shooting.

Civilians in the neighborhood being directed to custody by military personnel on Bloody Sunday
Individuals in the district being taken to arrest by military personnel on Bloody Sunday

That version of events was disputed by the original examination.

The initial inquiry determined the Army had been fired upon initially.

Throughout the resolution efforts, Tony Blair's government established a new investigation, following pressure by surviving kin, who said the first investigation had been a whitewash.

In 2010, the conclusion by Lord Saville said that on balance, the soldiers had initiated shooting and that zero among the casualties had posed any threat.

The then Prime Minister, the leader, expressed regret in the Parliament – saying killings were "unjustified and unacceptable."

Families of the deceased of the tragic event fatalities march from the district of Derry to the Guildhall displaying images of their relatives
Kin of the casualties of the tragic event fatalities walk from the district of Londonderry to the Guildhall carrying photographs of their family members

The police commenced investigate the incident.

A military veteran, known as the accused, was prosecuted for murder.

Accusations were made over the deaths of the first individual, twenty-two, and 26-year-old another victim.

The accused was also accused of trying to kill multiple individuals, additional persons, Joe Mahon, another person, and an unidentified individual.

Exists a legal order maintaining the veteran's privacy, which his attorneys have maintained is essential because he is at risk of attack.

He stated to the investigation that he had solely shot at persons who were possessing firearms.

That claim was dismissed in the concluding document.

Material from the investigation could not be used straightforwardly as testimony in the criminal process.

In the dock, the accused was hidden from public behind a privacy screen.

He spoke for the opening instance in the proceedings at a hearing in December 2024, to answer "innocent" when the allegations were read.

Kin and advocates of the victims on Bloody Sunday display a placard and images of the victims
Family members and advocates of those killed on the incident hold a placard and images of the deceased

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

A family member, whose relative was fatally wounded, said they were aware that listening to the proceedings would be emotional.

"I remember the events in my mind's eye," John said, as we visited the primary sites discussed in the trial – from the location, where Michael was fatally wounded, to the adjacent the courtyard, where the individual and the second person were fatally wounded.

"It even takes me back to where I was that day.

"I assisted with the victim and place him in the ambulance.

"I relived the entire event during the proceedings.

"But even with having to go through the process – it's still worthwhile for me."

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

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