How the Legal Case of a Former Soldier Regarding the 1972 Londonderry Incident Concluded in Case Dismissal

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

Sunday 30 January 1972 is remembered as among the deadliest – and significant – occasions during thirty years of conflict in the region.

Within the community of the incident – the memories of Bloody Sunday are painted on the buildings and etched in collective memory.

A civil rights march was held on a wintry, sunny afternoon in Derry.

The demonstration was opposing the practice of internment – detaining individuals without due process – which had been established in response to multiple years of conflict.

Father Daly displayed a white cloth stained with blood in an effort to protect a crowd carrying a teenager, the injured teenager
Fr Edward Daly used a bloodied fabric while attempting to protect a assembly transporting a youth, the fatally wounded youth

Soldiers from the specialized division killed thirteen individuals in the neighborhood – which was, and still is, a overwhelmingly nationalist population.

A specific visual became especially iconic.

Pictures showed a Catholic priest, Fr Edward Daly, waving a blood-stained white handkerchief as he tried to defend a crowd transporting a young man, the fatally wounded individual, who had been fatally wounded.

News camera operators captured much footage on the day.

Documented accounts contains Father Daly informing a journalist that soldiers "appeared to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "completely sure" that there was no provocation for the shooting.

Individuals in the neighborhood being marched towards detention by military personnel on Bloody Sunday
Individuals in the Bogside area being taken to custody by soldiers on Bloody Sunday

The narrative of the incident was rejected by the initial investigation.

The first investigation concluded the soldiers had been fired upon initially.

During the peace process, the administration commissioned a new investigation, after campaigning by bereaved relatives, who said Widgery had been a inadequate investigation.

That year, the report by the investigation said that generally, the soldiers had initiated shooting and that zero among the individuals had posed any threat.

At that time government leader, David Cameron, issued an apology in the Parliament – declaring fatalities were "unjustified and inexcusable."

Relatives of the casualties of the Bloody Sunday shootings march from the Bogside area of the city to the municipal center holding images of their loved ones
Relatives of the victims of the tragic event killings walk from the district of Londonderry to the civic building holding pictures of their loved ones

Law enforcement began to examine the incident.

A military veteran, identified as Soldier F, was prosecuted for homicide.

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

The accused was further implicated of attempting to murder Patrick O'Donnell, other civilians, Joe Mahon, another person, and an unidentified individual.

There is a court ruling protecting the veteran's identity protection, which his attorneys have claimed is required because he is at danger.

He stated to the examination that he had solely shot at people who were possessing firearms.

The statement was dismissed in the official findings.

Information from the investigation would not be used directly as testimony in the legal proceedings.

In the dock, the veteran was shielded from sight behind a blue curtain.

He spoke for the first time in the proceedings at a session in that month, to answer "not guilty" when the charges were presented.

Kin and supporters of those killed on that day carry a placard and photographs of the victims
Kin and allies of the victims on that day hold a sign and photos of the deceased

Family members of the victims on Bloody Sunday made the trip from the city to the judicial building daily of the trial.

A family member, whose sibling was fatally wounded, said they always knew that hearing the trial would be difficult.

"I visualize the events in my mind's eye," he said, as we walked around the primary sites mentioned in the trial – from Rossville Street, where his brother was killed, to the nearby Glenfada Park, where one victim and William McKinney were killed.

"It reminds me to my position that day.

"I helped to carry my brother and put him in the medical transport.

"I relived each detail during the proceedings.

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

James Wray (left) and Another victim (right) were among those who were killed on Bloody Sunday
Margaret Hunt
Margaret Hunt

An experienced educator and curriculum developer passionate about innovative teaching methods and student success.