How this Prosecution of an Army Veteran Over Bloody Sunday Concluded in Acquittal

Youths in a confrontation with army troops on Bloody Sunday
Youths in a confrontation with military personnel on Bloody Sunday

Sunday 30 January 1972 is remembered as among the deadliest – and momentous – occasions during three decades of unrest in the region.

Within the community where it happened – the legacy of that fateful day are displayed on the walls and embedded in people's minds.

A civil rights march was held on a wintry, sunny afternoon in the city.

The march was opposing the system of detention without trial – imprisoning people without trial – which had been established after three years of violence.

Fr Edward Daly used a bloodied fabric in an effort to defend a crowd moving a youth, the injured teenager
A Catholic priest displayed a bloodied fabric as he tried to defend a crowd moving a youth, the injured teenager

Troops from the elite army unit fatally wounded multiple civilians in the district – which was, and remains, a overwhelmingly republican population.

A particular photograph became notably memorable.

Pictures showed a clergyman, Father Daly, waving a stained with blood white handkerchief in his effort to protect a group carrying a teenager, Jackie Duddy, who had been fatally wounded.

Journalists captured much footage on the day.

Documented accounts contains Fr Daly explaining to a journalist that troops "appeared to fire in all directions" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no justification for the shooting.

Protesters in the district being directed to custody by British troops on Bloody Sunday
Civilians in the Bogside area being directed to arrest by soldiers on Bloody Sunday

That version of what happened was rejected by the initial investigation.

The Widgery Tribunal determined the military had been attacked first.

During the negotiation period, the ruling party established a new investigation, after campaigning by surviving kin, who said the initial inquiry had been a cover-up.

In 2010, the findings by the inquiry said that overall, the military personnel had fired first and that not one of the individuals had been armed.

At that time head of state, the leader, issued an apology in the government chamber – stating fatalities were "improper and inexcusable."

Kin of the deceased of the tragic event fatalities walk from the Bogside area of the city to the civic building holding pictures of their loved ones
Relatives of the deceased of the 1972 incident killings walk from the neighborhood of Londonderry to the civic building displaying photographs of their family members

Law enforcement began to examine the events.

One former paratrooper, known as Soldier F, was brought to trial for homicide.

Accusations were made over the fatalities of the first individual, in his twenties, and in his mid-twenties William McKinney.

The accused was further implicated of seeking to harm several people, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon, another person, and an unidentified individual.

There is a court ruling protecting the veteran's identity protection, which his legal team have claimed is necessary because he is at threat.

He told the investigation that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at people who were armed.

That claim was dismissed in the final report.

Information from the investigation would not be used immediately as proof in the legal proceedings.

In the dock, the defendant was hidden from public behind a blue curtain.

He spoke for the first time in court at a proceeding in that month, to reply "innocent" when the accusations were presented.

Relatives and advocates of the deceased on the incident display a placard and images of those killed
Family members and advocates of those killed on the incident display a placard and images of the deceased

Relatives of the victims on that day journeyed from Derry to the judicial building every day of the case.

A family member, whose sibling was died, said they always knew that hearing the trial would be difficult.

"I remember all details in my recollection," he said, as we walked around the key areas mentioned in the case – from Rossville Street, where his brother was fatally wounded, to the adjoining the area, where the individual and the second person were died.

"It returns me to where I was that day.

"I participated in moving the victim and put him in the vehicle.

"I relived every moment during the evidence.

"Notwithstanding experiencing all that – it's still meaningful for me."

James Wray (left) and Another victim (right) were part of who were died on Bloody Sunday
Joseph Newton
Joseph Newton

A passionate skincare enthusiast with over a decade of experience in dermatology and beauty blogging.