The Way this Legal Case of a Former Soldier Regarding the 1972 Londonderry Incident Ended in Case Dismissal

Protesters in a stand-off with British soldiers on Bloody Sunday
Youths in a stand-off with military personnel on Bloody Sunday

January 30th, 1972 is remembered as arguably the deadliest – and consequential – occasions during three decades of violence in this area.

In the streets where events unfolded – the legacy of the tragic events are visible on the walls and etched in people's minds.

A public gathering was organized on a wintry, sunny afternoon in Derry.

The demonstration was challenging the policy of imprisonment without charges – detaining individuals without trial – which had been established following three years of violence.

A Catholic priest used a bloodied fabric in an effort to defend a group carrying a youth, the fatally wounded youth
Father Daly used a bloodied fabric in an effort to protect a group transporting a young man, the fatally wounded youth

Soldiers from the Parachute Regiment shot dead 13 people in the district – which was, and remains, a overwhelmingly republican community.

A specific visual became especially iconic.

Pictures showed a religious figure, Fr Edward Daly, using a blood-stained fabric as he tried to shield a group moving a young man, the injured teenager, who had been mortally injured.

News camera operators recorded much footage on the day.

Historical records features Fr Daly telling a reporter that military personnel "appeared to fire in all directions" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no provocation for the shooting.

Individuals in the district being marched towards custody by British troops on Bloody Sunday
Protesters in the district being taken to arrest by soldiers on Bloody Sunday

This account of what happened was disputed by the first inquiry.

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

Throughout the negotiation period, the administration established another inquiry, after campaigning by surviving kin, who said the initial inquiry had been a inadequate investigation.

That year, the report by the inquiry said that generally, the military personnel had initiated shooting and that zero among the victims had presented danger.

The contemporary head of state, the Prime Minister, issued an apology in the Parliament – stating fatalities were "improper and unacceptable."

Relatives of the casualties of the Bloody Sunday shootings walk from the district of the city to the Guildhall carrying images of their loved ones
Kin of the casualties of the tragic event killings process from the district of Derry to the civic building displaying photographs of their relatives

Authorities started to investigate the matter.

An ex-soldier, known as Soldier F, was prosecuted for murder.

He was charged regarding the fatalities of one victim, in his twenties, and in his mid-twenties another victim.

Soldier F was further implicated of trying to kill Patrick O'Donnell, other civilians, more people, Michael Quinn, and an unidentified individual.

Remains a court ruling maintaining the defendant's privacy, which his lawyers have claimed is required because he is at risk of attack.

He stated to the investigation that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at persons who were armed.

That claim was dismissed in the concluding document.

Information from the investigation would not be used directly as evidence in the court case.

During the trial, the defendant was hidden from public behind a blue curtain.

He spoke for the first time in the hearing at a hearing in that month, to reply "innocent" when the allegations were put to him.

Family members and supporters of the deceased on Bloody Sunday hold a placard and images of those killed
Kin and supporters of the deceased on that day carry a banner and photographs of the deceased

Family members of the deceased on the incident made the trip from Londonderry to the judicial building daily of the trial.

John Kelly, whose sibling was killed, said they always knew that listening to the trial would be painful.

"I visualize the events in my recollection," John said, as we visited the primary sites referenced in the proceedings – from the street, where Michael was fatally wounded, to the adjacent the courtyard, where the individual and the second person were died.

"It returns me to my location that day.

"I helped to carry the victim and place him in the vehicle.

"I relived each detail during the testimony.

"Notwithstanding experiencing the process – it's still meaningful for me."

James Wray (left) and Another victim (right) were part of who were fatally wounded on the incident
Brandon Smith
Brandon Smith

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