The Way the Legal Case of an Army Veteran Over Bloody Sunday Concluded in Acquittal

Youths in a stand-off with army troops on Bloody Sunday
Youths in a confrontation with British soldiers on Bloody Sunday

Sunday 30 January 1972 stands as among the most deadly – and consequential – occasions during thirty years of violence in this area.

Within the community where events unfolded – the images of that fateful day are displayed on the buildings and etched in people's minds.

A public gathering was conducted on a wintry, sunny period in Londonderry.

The protest was challenging the practice of detention without trial – imprisoning people without legal proceedings – which had been established in response to an extended period of conflict.

A Catholic priest waved a bloodied fabric while attempting to protect a group moving a teenager, the injured teenager
Father Daly used a blood-stained handkerchief in an effort to defend a group carrying a young man, Jackie Duddy

Soldiers from the specialized division fatally wounded thirteen individuals in the neighborhood – which was, and still is, a overwhelmingly Irish nationalist population.

A specific visual became notably iconic.

Images showed a clergyman, the priest, using a blood-stained cloth as he tried to defend a group transporting a youth, the injured teenager, who had been fatally wounded.

Media personnel captured much footage on the day.

The archive includes the priest telling a reporter that military personnel "gave the impression they would discharge weapons randomly" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no justification for the shooting.

Protesters in the neighborhood being marched towards arrest by military personnel on Bloody Sunday
Civilians in the Bogside area being marched towards custody by British troops on Bloody Sunday

The narrative of what happened was disputed by the first inquiry.

The initial inquiry determined the Army had been shot at first.

During the peace process, the ruling party established a fresh examination, in response to advocacy by family members, who said the first investigation had been a whitewash.

That year, the conclusion by the inquiry said that generally, the paratroopers had fired first and that none of the victims had presented danger.

The contemporary head of state, David Cameron, expressed regret in the Parliament – saying killings were "without justification and unacceptable."

Kin of the deceased of the 1972 incident shootings walk from the district of Derry to the civic building displaying pictures of their family members
Kin of the casualties of the tragic event killings walk from the district of Derry to the Guildhall carrying images of their relatives

Authorities began to look into the incident.

An ex-soldier, identified as the accused, was charged for murder.

Indictments were filed over the deaths of one victim, twenty-two, and twenty-six-year-old William McKinney.

Soldier F was also accused of seeking to harm Patrick O'Donnell, other civilians, more people, Michael Quinn, and an unidentified individual.

Remains a judicial decision maintaining the veteran's anonymity, which his lawyers have claimed is necessary because he is at risk of attack.

He stated to the Saville Inquiry that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at people who were possessing firearms.

This assertion was rejected in the official findings.

Information from the inquiry would not be used directly as evidence in the court case.

During the trial, the veteran was screened from view behind a privacy screen.

He made statements for the initial occasion in the proceedings at a proceeding in that month, to reply "innocent" when the charges were read.

Relatives and advocates of those killed on that day display a placard and photographs of those killed
Family members and advocates of those killed on the incident hold a placard and images of the victims

Family members of the victims on Bloody Sunday travelled from the city to the courthouse each day of the proceedings.

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

"I can see all details in my memory," he said, as we examined the key areas discussed in the case – from the location, where his brother was fatally wounded, to the adjoining the courtyard, where one victim and the second person were died.

"It reminds me to my position that day.

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

"I relived the entire event during the testimony.

"Despite enduring all that – it's still valuable for me."

James Wray (left) and Another victim (right) were included who were fatally wounded on the incident
Jacqueline Garner
Jacqueline Garner

A passionate food blogger and snack enthusiast with years of experience in culinary arts and deal hunting.