The Way this Trial of a Former Soldier Over the 1972 Londonderry Incident Concluded in Case Dismissal

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

Sunday 30 January 1972 remains one of the deadliest – and significant – days throughout three decades of unrest in Northern Ireland.

In the streets where it happened – the images of that fateful day are displayed on the buildings and seared in public consciousness.

A public gathering was held on a wintry, sunny afternoon in the city.

The march was opposing the policy of detention without trial – holding suspects without due process – which had been established in response to three years of violence.

A Catholic priest waved a white cloth stained with blood while attempting to shield a crowd carrying a young man, Jackie Duddy
A Catholic priest used a white cloth stained with blood while attempting to shield a crowd moving a youth, the injured teenager

Military personnel from the elite army unit killed 13 people in the district – which was, and continues to be, a strongly republican area.

A specific visual became especially memorable.

Photographs showed a clergyman, Fr Edward Daly, displaying a stained with blood white handkerchief as he tried to protect a crowd carrying a teenager, Jackie Duddy, who had been mortally injured.

Media personnel recorded extensive video on the day.

The archive includes Fr Daly explaining to a journalist that soldiers "just seemed to fire in all directions" and he was "completely sure" that there was no justification for the gunfire.

Civilians in the district being directed to arrest by British troops on Bloody Sunday
Civilians in the Bogside area being directed to custody by military personnel on Bloody Sunday

That version of what happened was disputed by the original examination.

The first investigation determined the military had been shot at first.

In the peace process, the administration set up 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 soldiers had initiated shooting and that none of the individuals had posed any threat.

The then government leader, David Cameron, apologised in the Parliament – stating killings were "unjustified and unjustifiable."

Families of the casualties of the 1972 incident killings process from the neighborhood of Londonderry to the municipal center holding pictures of their relatives
Relatives of the deceased of the tragic event fatalities process from the district of Derry to the civic building displaying images of their relatives

The police started to look into the matter.

An ex-soldier, identified as Soldier F, was brought to trial for homicide.

Accusations were made over the deaths of one victim, 22, and 26-year-old the second individual.

The accused was additionally charged of seeking to harm multiple individuals, Joseph Friel, more people, Michael Quinn, and an unidentified individual.

Remains a court ruling protecting the veteran's privacy, which his legal team have claimed is necessary because he is at threat.

He told the investigation that he had only fired at people who were possessing firearms.

This assertion was rejected in the final report.

Evidence from the inquiry was unable to be used directly as proof in the legal proceedings.

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

He spoke for the initial occasion in the hearing at a session in that month, to reply "not guilty" when the allegations were put to him.

Kin and allies of the deceased on Bloody Sunday display a banner and images of the victims
Relatives and supporters of the victims on that day carry a banner and images of those killed

Kin of the victims on Bloody Sunday journeyed from the city to Belfast Crown Court every day of the case.

One relative, whose brother Michael was killed, said they always knew that listening to the trial would be difficult.

"I visualize everything in my memory," the relative said, as we visited the key areas referenced in the case – from Rossville Street, where his brother was fatally wounded, to the adjacent the courtyard, where one victim and William McKinney were killed.

"It returns me to where I was that day.

"I participated in moving my brother and place him in the ambulance.

"I relived each detail during the testimony.

"Notwithstanding enduring everything – it's still valuable for me."

James Wray (left) and William McKinney (right) were among those who were killed on the incident
Gerald Hill
Gerald Hill

A passionate designer with over a decade of experience in creating innovative visual solutions and sharing industry insights.