How the Legal Case of a Former Soldier Over the 1972 Londonderry Incident Concluded in Acquittal

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

Sunday 30 January 1972 stands as one of the deadliest – and significant – days throughout thirty years of conflict in the region.

In the streets where events unfolded – the images of the tragic events are displayed on the walls and embedded in collective memory.

A protest demonstration was held on a chilly yet clear period in the city.

The protest was opposing the system of imprisonment without charges – detaining individuals without due process – which had been put in place following multiple years of violence.

Fr Edward Daly displayed a bloodied fabric in an effort to protect a crowd transporting a youth, the fatally wounded youth
Fr Edward Daly waved a bloodied fabric as he tried to protect a crowd transporting a teenager, the injured teenager

Soldiers from the specialized division killed multiple civilians in the district – which was, and still is, a strongly nationalist population.

A particular photograph became particularly prominent.

Pictures showed a religious figure, Father Daly, displaying a bloodied cloth while attempting to shield a crowd moving a youth, the fatally wounded individual, who had been mortally injured.

News camera operators captured considerable film on the day.

Historical records includes Fr Daly informing a reporter that soldiers "just seemed to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no provocation for the shooting.

Civilians in the Bogside area being directed to arrest by British troops on Bloody Sunday
Protesters in the neighborhood being directed to arrest by British troops on Bloody Sunday

This account of the incident wasn't accepted by the first inquiry.

The initial inquiry found the Army had been shot at first.

In the peace process, the administration established another inquiry, in response to advocacy by bereaved relatives, who said the first investigation had been a whitewash.

That year, the conclusion by the inquiry said that on balance, the military personnel had initiated shooting and that not one of the casualties had posed any threat.

The contemporary head of state, David Cameron, apologised in the House of Commons – saying killings were "improper and unacceptable."

Relatives of the victims of the Bloody Sunday killings walk from the Bogside area of the city to the municipal center carrying images of their family members
Kin of the victims of the tragic event fatalities walk from the district of the city to the municipal center carrying images of their loved ones

Law enforcement began to examine the incident.

An ex-soldier, identified as the accused, was brought to trial for murder.

Indictments were filed regarding the fatalities of James Wray, in his twenties, and in his mid-twenties the second individual.

The accused was also accused of seeking to harm Patrick O'Donnell, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon, another person, and an unknown person.

There is a judicial decision protecting the veteran's anonymity, which his legal team have claimed is necessary because he is at risk of attack.

He told the Saville Inquiry that he had solely shot at people who were armed.

This assertion was dismissed in the concluding document.

Evidence from the examination was unable to be used straightforwardly as evidence in the court case.

In court, the veteran was hidden from public with a privacy screen.

He made statements for the first time in court at a hearing in December 2024, to respond "not guilty" when the charges were read.

Kin and allies of the victims on the incident hold a banner and photographs of the victims
Family members and allies of the victims on Bloody Sunday hold a banner and photos of the victims

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

One relative, whose relative was fatally wounded, said they were aware that hearing the proceedings would be painful.

"I remember everything in my mind's eye," the relative said, as we walked around the primary sites discussed in the case – from Rossville Street, where the victim was fatally wounded, to the adjacent Glenfada Park, where the individual and another victim were killed.

"It reminds me to where I was that day.

"I participated in moving the victim and place him in the medical transport.

"I relived every moment during the testimony.

"Despite enduring everything – it's still meaningful for me."

One victim (left) and William McKinney (right) were among those who were fatally wounded on Bloody Sunday
Matthew White
Matthew White

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