The Way this Prosecution of an Army Veteran Regarding the 1972 Londonderry Incident Ended in Not Guilty Verdict

Protesters in a confrontation with army troops on Bloody Sunday
Youths in a tense situation with army troops on Bloody Sunday

January 30th, 1972 stands as arguably the most deadly – and momentous – occasions in thirty years of violence in Northern Ireland.

In the streets where events unfolded – the memories of Bloody Sunday are visible on the structures and embedded in public consciousness.

A public gathering was organized on a cold but bright period in Londonderry.

The demonstration was challenging the system of internment – imprisoning people without legal proceedings – which had been established in response to multiple years of violence.

A Catholic priest displayed a blood-stained handkerchief as he tried to protect a group moving a young man, Jackie Duddy
A Catholic priest displayed a blood-stained handkerchief while attempting to shield a group moving a young man, the injured teenager

Military personnel from the Parachute Regiment fatally wounded multiple civilians in the neighborhood – which was, and continues to be, a predominantly republican area.

A specific visual became particularly iconic.

Photographs showed a clergyman, the priest, waving a stained with blood fabric as he tried to protect a assembly carrying a young man, the fatally wounded individual, who had been fatally wounded.

News camera operators captured much footage on the day.

Historical records features Father Daly informing a reporter that soldiers "just seemed to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no justification for the gunfire.

Civilians in the Bogside area being marched towards detention by military personnel on Bloody Sunday
Protesters in the neighborhood being taken to detention by military personnel on Bloody Sunday

That version of events wasn't accepted by the initial investigation.

The first investigation found the military had been fired upon initially.

Throughout the negotiation period, the ruling party commissioned a fresh examination, following pressure by surviving kin, who said the first investigation had been a cover-up.

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

At that time head of state, the Prime Minister, expressed regret in the government chamber – stating fatalities were "improper and unjustifiable."

Kin of the victims of the tragic event shootings walk from the district of the city to the municipal center carrying pictures of their loved ones
Relatives of the casualties of the Bloody Sunday killings walk from the district of Derry to the municipal center displaying pictures of their loved ones

Authorities started to examine the incident.

A military veteran, known as Soldier F, was brought to trial for killing.

Accusations were made over the deaths of the first individual, twenty-two, and twenty-six-year-old the second individual.

Soldier F was additionally charged of seeking to harm multiple individuals, additional persons, further individuals, another person, and an unknown person.

Remains a court ruling protecting the defendant's anonymity, which his legal team have argued is required because he is at danger.

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

That claim was disputed in the concluding document.

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

In court, the veteran was screened from view behind a privacy screen.

He addressed the court for the opening instance in the hearing at a session in that month, to respond "innocent" when the accusations were presented.

Relatives and allies of the deceased on Bloody Sunday hold a banner and photographs of the victims
Relatives and allies of the victims on Bloody Sunday carry a placard and images of those killed

Family members of the deceased on the incident journeyed from the city to the judicial building every day of the trial.

A family member, whose relative was died, said they were aware that listening to the proceedings would be painful.

"I remember the events in my memory," he said, as we examined the main locations referenced in the proceedings – from Rossville Street, where Michael was shot dead, to the nearby the courtyard, where the individual and William McKinney were killed.

"It returns me to my position that day.

"I assisted with my brother and lay him in the vehicle.

"I experienced again every moment during the evidence.

"Despite having to go through all that – it's still meaningful for me."

One victim (left) and William McKinney (right) were part of who were killed on Bloody Sunday
Shawn Huffman
Shawn Huffman

A passionate mixed-media artist and educator, sharing techniques and stories to inspire creativity in others.