How the Trial of a Former Soldier Over Bloody Sunday Concluded in Not Guilty Verdict
January 30th, 1972 stands as arguably the deadliest – and momentous – dates throughout thirty years of unrest in Northern Ireland.
In the streets where events unfolded – the memories of Bloody Sunday are displayed on the buildings and seared in people's minds.
A protest demonstration was organized on a chilly yet clear afternoon in the city.
The march was a protest against the policy of imprisonment without charges – imprisoning people without legal proceedings – which had been established in response to three years of violence.
Troops from the specialized division killed thirteen individuals in the district – which was, and remains, a strongly nationalist population.
One image became especially prominent.
Pictures showed a religious figure, Father Daly, using a bloodied white handkerchief as he tried to shield a crowd moving a youth, Jackie Duddy, who had been fatally wounded.
Journalists recorded much footage on the day.
Historical records includes the priest telling a media representative that troops "gave the impression they would shoot indiscriminately" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no provocation for the shooting.
The narrative of the incident was disputed by the original examination.
The first investigation found the soldiers had been shot at first.
Throughout the peace process, Tony Blair's government established a fresh examination, after campaigning by bereaved relatives, who said the initial inquiry had been a cover-up.
In 2010, the conclusion by Lord Saville said that generally, the military personnel had initiated shooting and that none of the victims had presented danger.
The then head of state, the leader, expressed regret in the government chamber – saying deaths were "without justification and inexcusable."
The police began to look into the matter.
One former paratrooper, identified as the defendant, was brought to trial for killing.
Accusations were made over the killings of James Wray, twenty-two, and twenty-six-year-old William McKinney.
The accused was also accused of attempting to murder several people, additional persons, more people, another person, and an unidentified individual.
There is a judicial decision preserving the defendant's anonymity, which his legal team have argued is required because he is at danger.
He stated to the examination that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at individuals who were carrying weapons.
The statement was rejected in the final report.
Information from the inquiry was unable to be used directly as evidence in the criminal process.
In court, the veteran was hidden from public behind a blue curtain.
He addressed the court for the opening instance in court at a session in late 2024, to answer "innocent" when the charges were read.
Kin of those who were killed on Bloody Sunday journeyed from the city to Belfast Crown Court daily of the proceedings.
A family member, whose sibling was died, said they always knew that listening to the trial would be painful.
"I visualize all details in my recollection," the relative said, as we visited the main locations referenced in the proceedings – from the street, where the victim was fatally wounded, to the adjacent the area, where James Wray and William McKinney were died.
"It even takes me back to my location that day.
"I helped to carry Michael and place him in the medical transport.
"I relived each detail during the proceedings.
"Despite experiencing the process – it's still valuable for me."
