How the Legal Case of an Army Veteran Over the 1972 Londonderry Incident Ended in Not Guilty Verdict

Youths in a stand-off with military personnel on Bloody Sunday
Youths in a confrontation with British soldiers on Bloody Sunday

Sunday 30 January 1972 is remembered as arguably the most fatal – and momentous – dates in thirty years of violence in Northern Ireland.

Within the community where it happened – the legacy of the tragic events are visible on the walls and seared in people's minds.

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

The march was challenging the policy of detention without trial – detaining individuals without legal proceedings – which had been established after an extended period of conflict.

Father Daly displayed a blood-stained handkerchief in an effort to shield a crowd moving a youth, the fatally wounded youth
Father Daly displayed a blood-stained handkerchief while attempting to defend a group moving a teenager, the injured teenager

Soldiers from the Parachute Regiment killed 13 people in the district – which was, and remains, a predominantly republican population.

One image became especially prominent.

Pictures showed a Catholic priest, the priest, using a stained with blood cloth as he tried to shield a crowd carrying a youth, the injured teenager, who had been mortally injured.

Media personnel captured much footage on the day.

Documented accounts features Fr Daly explaining to a media representative that soldiers "appeared to fire in all directions" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no justification for the shooting.

Individuals in the neighborhood being taken to arrest by soldiers on Bloody Sunday
Civilians in the neighborhood being directed to arrest by soldiers on Bloody Sunday

That version of events was rejected by the original examination.

The initial inquiry found the Army had been attacked first.

In the negotiation period, the ruling party established a fresh examination, in response to advocacy by bereaved relatives, who said the first investigation had been a inadequate investigation.

In 2010, the conclusion by the inquiry said that overall, the military personnel had initiated shooting and that zero among the casualties had posed any threat.

At that time government leader, the Prime Minister, apologised in the House of Commons – stating killings were "improper and unjustifiable."

Kin of the casualties of the 1972 incident killings process from the Bogside area of Londonderry to the Guildhall holding images of their loved ones
Families of the casualties of the Bloody Sunday fatalities march from the district of Londonderry to the Guildhall carrying images of their family members

Law enforcement commenced look into the incident.

A military veteran, identified as Soldier F, was brought to trial for homicide.

Indictments were filed concerning the deaths of the first individual, twenty-two, and in his mid-twenties the second individual.

Soldier F was also accused of seeking to harm several people, additional persons, Joe Mahon, Michael Quinn, and an unknown person.

Remains a legal order preserving the defendant's identity protection, which his attorneys have argued is necessary because he is at risk of attack.

He stated to the Saville Inquiry that he had only fired at persons who were armed.

That claim was rejected in the concluding document.

Evidence from the investigation was unable to be used immediately as proof in the legal proceedings.

In the dock, the accused was screened from view using a privacy screen.

He addressed the court for the initial occasion in court at a proceeding in December 2024, to respond "innocent" when the allegations were read.

Kin and advocates of the deceased on that day display a banner and images of those killed
Kin and supporters of the deceased on the incident carry a banner and photographs of the victims

Relatives of the victims on the incident journeyed from Londonderry to Belfast Crown Court each day of the proceedings.

John Kelly, whose brother Michael was died, said they understood that listening to the case would be difficult.

"I remember the events in my memory," John said, as we walked around the key areas referenced in the case – from the street, where his brother was fatally wounded, to the adjoining the area, where one victim and William McKinney were fatally wounded.

"It reminds me to my location that day.

"I participated in moving Michael and place him in the ambulance.

"I went through the entire event during the proceedings.

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

One victim (left) and William McKinney (right) were part of who were died on the incident
Anthony Allison
Anthony Allison

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