How the Trial of a Former Soldier Regarding Bloody Sunday Ended in Acquittal
January 30th, 1972 remains arguably the most deadly – and momentous – occasions in three decades of conflict in Northern Ireland.
In the streets where it happened – the images of the tragic events are visible on the structures and embedded in collective memory.
A civil rights march was conducted on a chilly yet clear period in the city.
The protest was a protest against the policy of internment – imprisoning people without trial – which had been established following three years of violence.
Troops from the specialized division shot dead thirteen individuals in the Bogside area – which was, and remains, a strongly Irish nationalist population.
A particular photograph became notably iconic.
Pictures showed a clergyman, the priest, displaying a stained with blood fabric as he tried to defend a assembly carrying a young man, Jackie Duddy, who had been mortally injured.
Media personnel recorded considerable film on the day.
The archive contains the priest informing a journalist that soldiers "just seemed to shoot indiscriminately" and he was "completely sure" that there was no reason for the gunfire.
The narrative of events was rejected by the first inquiry.
The first investigation determined the soldiers had been attacked first.
In the peace process, Tony Blair's government commissioned a new investigation, following pressure by bereaved relatives, who said the initial inquiry had been a inadequate investigation.
In 2010, the findings by the investigation said that overall, the military personnel had initiated shooting and that not one of the victims had posed any threat.
The then government leader, the leader, issued an apology in the Parliament – declaring deaths were "unjustified and unjustifiable."
The police started to look into the incident.
A military veteran, referred to as the accused, was brought to trial for killing.
Accusations were made regarding the killings of the first individual, in his twenties, and 26-year-old another victim.
The accused was also accused of seeking to harm several people, other civilians, more people, another person, and an unknown person.
Exists a judicial decision maintaining the defendant's anonymity, which his legal team have claimed is essential because he is at danger.
He stated to the Saville Inquiry that he had only fired at individuals who were carrying weapons.
This assertion was dismissed in the concluding document.
Evidence from the inquiry would not be used straightforwardly as proof in the court case.
In court, the defendant was screened from view behind a protective barrier.
He spoke for the initial occasion in court at a proceeding in December 2024, to reply "innocent" when the charges were read.
Family members of those who were killed on that day journeyed from Derry to the judicial building daily of the case.
John Kelly, whose brother Michael was killed, said they understood that hearing the case would be painful.
"I visualize the events in my recollection," John said, as we examined the primary sites referenced in the trial – from the street, where his brother was fatally wounded, to the adjoining the area, where James Wray and another victim were fatally wounded.
"It returns me to where I was that day.
"I helped to carry the victim and lay him in the medical transport.
"I relived every moment during the testimony.
"Despite experiencing all that – it's still worthwhile for me."
