The Way this Legal Case of an Army Veteran Over the 1972 Londonderry Incident Ended in Acquittal

Protesters in a tense situation with military personnel on Bloody Sunday
Protesters in a stand-off with military personnel on Bloody Sunday

Sunday 30 January 1972 stands as among the deadliest – and significant – days during three decades of conflict in this area.

Within the community where events unfolded – the legacy of that fateful day are visible on the structures and etched in collective memory.

A civil rights march was conducted on a chilly yet clear afternoon in the city.

The march was opposing the system of detention without trial – imprisoning people without trial – which had been established after an extended period of unrest.

Father Daly displayed a blood-stained handkerchief while attempting to shield a crowd moving a youth, Jackie Duddy
Father Daly waved a blood-stained handkerchief in an effort to defend a group transporting a young man, the fatally wounded youth

Military personnel from the specialized division fatally wounded 13 people in the Bogside area – which was, and remains, a overwhelmingly Irish nationalist population.

A particular photograph became notably iconic.

Photographs showed a religious figure, Father Daly, waving a blood-stained cloth in his effort to shield a assembly transporting a youth, Jackie Duddy, who had been killed.

Journalists documented considerable film on the day.

The archive contains Fr Daly explaining to a media representative that troops "appeared to shoot indiscriminately" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no justification for the discharge of weapons.

Civilians in the neighborhood being taken to detention by soldiers on Bloody Sunday
Protesters in the neighborhood being taken to custody by British troops on Bloody Sunday

This account of the incident wasn't accepted by the original examination.

The initial inquiry found the Army had been shot at first.

In the negotiation period, the ruling party set up a fresh examination, in response to advocacy by family members, who said the first investigation had been a inadequate investigation.

In 2010, the findings by Lord Saville said that generally, the soldiers had initiated shooting and that zero among the victims had been armed.

The contemporary government leader, David Cameron, expressed regret in the government chamber – saying fatalities were "unjustified and inexcusable."

Families of the casualties of the Bloody Sunday shootings walk from the district of Derry to the municipal center holding pictures of their relatives
Kin of the deceased of the Bloody Sunday shootings process from the district of Londonderry to the civic building holding pictures of their relatives

Law enforcement commenced investigate the matter.

One former paratrooper, identified as the defendant, was charged for homicide.

He was charged concerning the deaths of the first individual, in his twenties, and 26-year-old the second individual.

Soldier F was further implicated of trying to kill multiple individuals, additional persons, more people, another person, and an unknown person.

There is a court ruling preserving the veteran's anonymity, which his attorneys have maintained is essential because he is at risk of attack.

He testified the Saville Inquiry that he had solely shot at persons who were carrying weapons.

This assertion was rejected in the concluding document.

Evidence from the examination was unable to be used straightforwardly as evidence in the legal proceedings.

In court, the defendant was shielded from sight with a protective barrier.

He spoke for the first time in the proceedings at a hearing in late 2024, to reply "not responsible" when the charges were presented.

Family members and supporters of the victims on that day display a placard and photographs of the deceased
Family members and allies of the victims on the incident carry a placard and photos of those killed

Relatives of the deceased on Bloody Sunday travelled from Londonderry to the judicial building every day of the trial.

One relative, whose relative was killed, said they understood that hearing the proceedings would be emotional.

"I can see all details in my mind's eye," he said, as we visited the key areas discussed in the proceedings – from Rossville Street, where his brother was fatally wounded, to the adjacent the area, where one victim and the second person were killed.

"It reminds me to my location that day.

"I participated in moving my brother and lay him in the vehicle.

"I experienced again each detail during the evidence.

"Despite having to go through the process – it's still worthwhile for me."

James Wray (left) and Another victim (right) were among those who were fatally wounded on Bloody Sunday
Amy Jones
Amy Jones

Lena ist eine erfahrene Journalistin mit Schwerpunkt auf Politik und Gesellschaft, die regelmäßig über deutsche und europäische Themen berichtet.