The Way this Prosecution of a Former Soldier Regarding the 1972 Londonderry Incident Concluded in Not Guilty Verdict
Sunday 30 January 1972 is remembered as one of the most fatal – and consequential – occasions during three decades of conflict in Northern Ireland.
Within the community where it happened – the memories of Bloody Sunday are displayed on the walls and seared in collective memory.
A civil rights march was held on a wintry, sunny period in Derry.
The march was opposing the system of internment – holding suspects without legal proceedings – which had been implemented after multiple years of violence.
Military personnel from the specialized division shot dead thirteen individuals in the neighborhood – which was, and still is, a predominantly republican population.
One image became especially memorable.
Photographs showed a Catholic priest, the priest, using a stained with blood fabric in his effort to defend a group moving a teenager, the fatally wounded individual, who had been mortally injured.
Journalists captured extensive video on the day.
The archive includes Father Daly explaining to a reporter that troops "gave the impression they would discharge weapons randomly" and he was "completely sure" that there was no provocation for the shooting.
This account of events was disputed by the first inquiry.
The initial inquiry found the military had been shot at first.
In the peace process, the administration established a fresh examination, in response to advocacy by family members, who said the first investigation had been a whitewash.
During 2010, the findings by the inquiry said that generally, the paratroopers had initiated shooting and that none of the individuals had been armed.
The contemporary Prime Minister, the leader, expressed regret in the House of Commons – stating deaths were "improper and inexcusable."
Authorities commenced examine the incident.
An ex-soldier, known as Soldier F, was prosecuted for homicide.
Indictments were filed concerning the deaths of one victim, in his twenties, and twenty-six-year-old another victim.
Soldier F was further implicated of trying to kill Patrick O'Donnell, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon, an additional individual, and an unnamed civilian.
There is a court ruling maintaining the defendant's privacy, which his legal team have maintained is required because he is at threat.
He testified the Saville Inquiry that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at individuals who were armed.
This assertion was rejected in the final report.
Information from the investigation could not be used directly as evidence in the legal proceedings.
In court, the defendant was shielded from sight behind a privacy screen.
He addressed the court for the initial occasion in the hearing at a session in that month, to answer "not responsible" when the accusations were presented.
Relatives of those who were killed on that day journeyed from the city to the courthouse each day of the proceedings.
John Kelly, whose sibling was died, said they always knew that hearing the case would be emotional.
"I remember the events in my mind's eye," John said, as we walked around the key areas mentioned in the proceedings – from Rossville Street, where his brother was fatally wounded, to the adjoining the courtyard, where one victim and another victim were killed.
"It returns me to where I was that day.
"I participated in moving the victim and lay him in the vehicle.
"I went through the entire event during the proceedings.
"Notwithstanding enduring the process – it's still worthwhile for me."