The Way the Prosecution of a Former Soldier Regarding Bloody Sunday Ended in Not Guilty Verdict

Youths in a stand-off with military personnel on Bloody Sunday
Youths in a confrontation with military personnel on Bloody Sunday

Sunday 30 January 1972 stands as arguably the most deadly – and significant – occasions in multiple decades of conflict in Northern Ireland.

Within the community where it happened – the memories of that fateful day are visible on the buildings and embedded in people's minds.

A protest demonstration was organized on a cold but bright day in the city.

The protest was challenging the policy of detention without trial – holding suspects without due process – which had been put in place in response to multiple years of violence.

A Catholic priest used a blood-stained handkerchief while attempting to defend a group carrying a teenager, the injured teenager
Father Daly waved a bloodied fabric in an effort to shield a group transporting a teenager, the fatally wounded youth

Military personnel from the elite army unit killed thirteen individuals in the district – which was, and remains, a overwhelmingly Irish nationalist area.

One image became particularly prominent.

Photographs showed a religious figure, Father Daly, displaying a stained with blood fabric in his effort to defend a group moving a teenager, the injured teenager, who had been fatally wounded.

News camera operators recorded considerable film on the day.

The archive includes Fr Daly informing a journalist that military personnel "appeared to shoot indiscriminately" and he was "completely sure" that there was no provocation for the discharge of weapons.

Individuals in the neighborhood being taken to detention by British troops on Bloody Sunday
Individuals in the neighborhood being marched towards arrest by military personnel on Bloody Sunday

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

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

In the peace process, Tony Blair's government commissioned a new investigation, following pressure by family members, who said the initial inquiry had been a cover-up.

That year, the conclusion by the investigation said that on balance, the military personnel had discharged weapons initially and that none of the victims had presented danger.

At that time Prime Minister, the Prime Minister, apologised in the Parliament – declaring deaths were "without justification and inexcusable."

Kin of the victims of the 1972 incident fatalities process from the neighborhood of Derry to the Guildhall displaying pictures of their family members
Relatives of the casualties of the Bloody Sunday shootings process from the district of Londonderry to the Guildhall displaying images of their loved ones

Authorities commenced investigate the matter.

One former paratrooper, known as the accused, was charged for homicide.

Indictments were filed regarding the fatalities of James Wray, twenty-two, and twenty-six-year-old William McKinney.

The defendant was additionally charged of trying to kill multiple individuals, other civilians, Joe Mahon, another person, and an unnamed civilian.

There is a legal order preserving the defendant's anonymity, which his attorneys have maintained is necessary because he is at danger.

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

The statement was disputed in the final report.

Material from the examination was unable to be used immediately as proof in the court case.

In court, the defendant was screened from view with a protective barrier.

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

Relatives and advocates of the victims on Bloody Sunday carry a banner and photographs of those killed
Family members and supporters of the victims on Bloody Sunday hold a sign and photos of those killed

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

John Kelly, whose relative was fatally wounded, said they were aware that attending the trial would be difficult.

"I remember the events in my recollection," he said, as we examined the key areas discussed in the trial – from Rossville Street, where Michael was killed, to the nearby Glenfada Park, where the individual and another victim were fatally wounded.

"It reminds me to where I was that day.

"I assisted with my brother and lay him in the vehicle.

"I experienced again every moment during the proceedings.

"But even with enduring all that – it's still worthwhile for me."

One victim (left) and Another victim (right) were among those who were died on Bloody Sunday
David Gonzalez
David Gonzalez

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