The Way the Prosecution of a Former Soldier Over Bloody Sunday Ended in Case Dismissal
Sunday 30 January 1972 is remembered as among the most fatal – and momentous – days during multiple decades of unrest in this area.
Within the community of the incident – the legacy of that fateful day are visible on the buildings and seared in public consciousness.
A civil rights march was conducted on a chilly yet clear day in Londonderry.
The protest was opposing the practice of internment – holding suspects without trial – which had been established after three years of unrest.
Soldiers from the elite army unit fatally wounded 13 people in the Bogside area – which was, and remains, a strongly republican area.
A specific visual became especially iconic.
Photographs showed a religious figure, Fr Edward Daly, using a blood-stained cloth while attempting to shield a group carrying a youth, Jackie Duddy, who had been fatally wounded.
Journalists captured much footage on the day.
Historical records includes the priest telling a journalist that military personnel "appeared to fire in all directions" and he was "completely sure" that there was no provocation for the discharge of weapons.
The narrative of events wasn't accepted by the initial investigation.
The Widgery Tribunal found the Army had been shot at first.
During the negotiation period, the ruling party commissioned a fresh examination, in response to advocacy by bereaved relatives, who said the initial inquiry had been a whitewash.
During 2010, the conclusion by Lord Saville said that on balance, the soldiers had discharged weapons initially and that not one of the victims had presented danger.
The then head of state, the Prime Minister, issued an apology in the government chamber – declaring killings were "improper and inexcusable."
Law enforcement began to examine the events.
One former paratrooper, known as Soldier F, was charged for killing.
Accusations were made over the killings of James Wray, in his twenties, and in his mid-twenties another victim.
Soldier F was additionally charged of trying to kill multiple individuals, additional persons, Joe Mahon, another person, and an unknown person.
Remains a court ruling maintaining the veteran's privacy, which his legal team have argued is essential because he is at danger.
He told the Saville Inquiry that he had solely shot at individuals who were armed.
The statement was rejected in the concluding document.
Information from the examination would not be used straightforwardly as evidence in the court case.
In court, the veteran was screened from view using a privacy screen.
He spoke for the first time in court at a session in late 2024, to respond "not guilty" when the charges were presented.
Family members of the victims on Bloody Sunday journeyed from Derry to Belfast Crown Court daily of the case.
A family member, whose sibling was fatally wounded, said they were aware that listening to the proceedings would be difficult.
"I remember the events in my recollection," John said, as we walked around the primary sites mentioned in the trial – from the location, where the victim was fatally wounded, to the nearby Glenfada Park, where James Wray and William McKinney were killed.
"It returns me to where I was that day.
"I assisted with the victim and lay him in the ambulance.
"I relived every moment during the evidence.
"Despite experiencing everything – it's still worthwhile for me."