The Way the Legal Case of a Former Soldier Over Bloody Sunday Concluded in Not Guilty Verdict
January 30th, 1972 stands as arguably the most deadly – and momentous – occasions throughout multiple decades of conflict in the region.
In the streets where events unfolded – the images of the tragic events are visible on the structures and embedded in public consciousness.
A civil rights march was conducted on a wintry, sunny period in Londonderry.
The protest was opposing the system of imprisonment without charges – imprisoning people without due process – which had been put in place in response to multiple years of violence.
Soldiers from the Parachute Regiment killed 13 people in the Bogside area – which was, and continues to be, a predominantly Irish nationalist community.
A particular photograph became especially prominent.
Photographs showed a religious figure, the priest, displaying a stained with blood white handkerchief while attempting to shield a crowd carrying a young man, the injured teenager, who had been mortally injured.
Media personnel captured considerable film on the day.
Documented accounts contains Fr Daly telling a reporter that troops "just seemed to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no provocation for the shooting.
This account of events wasn't accepted by the initial investigation.
The Widgery Tribunal determined the soldiers had been shot at first.
In the peace process, Tony Blair's government commissioned a fresh examination, after campaigning by bereaved relatives, who said the initial inquiry had been a cover-up.
During 2010, the findings by the investigation said that overall, the paratroopers had discharged weapons initially and that none of the individuals had presented danger.
The then government leader, the leader, expressed regret in the government chamber – declaring killings were "unjustified and unacceptable."
Law enforcement began to examine the events.
One former paratrooper, known as the accused, was charged for homicide.
Indictments were filed regarding the deaths of the first individual, twenty-two, and twenty-six-year-old another victim.
The defendant was further implicated of seeking to harm Patrick O'Donnell, additional persons, further individuals, Michael Quinn, and an unknown person.
Exists a legal order protecting the soldier's identity protection, which his lawyers have claimed is required because he is at threat.
He testified the investigation that he had solely shot at people who were possessing firearms.
That claim was disputed in the official findings.
Information from the inquiry could not be used straightforwardly as evidence in the criminal process.
During the trial, the accused was shielded from sight behind a blue curtain.
He made statements for the first time in the hearing at a session in late 2024, to respond "not responsible" when the allegations were read.
Kin of the victims on Bloody Sunday made the trip from Derry to the judicial building each day of the trial.
John Kelly, whose relative was fatally wounded, said they understood that listening to the case would be difficult.
"I visualize everything in my recollection," the relative said, as we visited the primary sites mentioned in the trial – from Rossville Street, where Michael was shot dead, to the adjacent the area, where James Wray and the second person were fatally wounded.
"It returns me to my location that day.
"I participated in moving the victim and put him in the ambulance.
"I went through each detail during the evidence.
"Notwithstanding experiencing the process – it's still worthwhile for me."