How the Trial of an Army Veteran Regarding the 1972 Londonderry Incident Concluded in Acquittal
Sunday 30 January 1972 is remembered as arguably the deadliest – and momentous – dates in thirty years of violence in this area.
In the streets of the incident – the legacy of Bloody Sunday are displayed on the structures and embedded in public consciousness.
A civil rights march was organized on a chilly yet clear afternoon in the city.
The march was opposing the system of internment – imprisoning people without legal proceedings – which had been implemented in response to multiple years of unrest.
Troops from the elite army unit killed thirteen individuals in the Bogside area – which was, and continues to be, a predominantly Irish nationalist area.
A particular photograph became especially memorable.
Photographs showed a Catholic priest, Father Daly, waving a bloodied white handkerchief in his effort to shield a group carrying a youth, the injured teenager, who had been fatally wounded.
Journalists recorded much footage on the day.
Historical records contains Father Daly explaining to a media representative that military personnel "just seemed to fire in all directions" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no reason for the shooting.
That version of what happened was disputed by the original examination.
The Widgery Tribunal determined the soldiers had been attacked first.
During the negotiation period, the administration commissioned a fresh examination, after campaigning by bereaved relatives, who said Widgery had been a inadequate investigation.
During 2010, the report by Lord Saville said that on balance, the military personnel had discharged weapons initially and that not one of the victims had been armed.
The then Prime Minister, the leader, apologised in the Parliament – saying killings were "improper and unacceptable."
Authorities started to investigate the events.
A military veteran, known as the defendant, was charged for murder.
Accusations were made over the deaths of one victim, 22, and in his mid-twenties another victim.
Soldier F was further implicated of seeking to harm several people, other civilians, Joe Mahon, an additional individual, and an unnamed civilian.
Remains a legal order protecting the defendant's privacy, which his legal team have argued is essential because he is at danger.
He stated to the investigation that he had only fired at individuals who were carrying weapons.
This assertion was disputed in the official findings.
Evidence from the examination would not be used immediately as testimony in the criminal process.
During the trial, the accused was hidden from public using a blue curtain.
He made statements for the initial occasion in the proceedings at a hearing in that month, to respond "innocent" when the accusations were presented.
Kin of those who were killed on that day travelled from Londonderry to Belfast Crown Court daily of the case.
John Kelly, whose relative was killed, said they understood that hearing the proceedings would be painful.
"I can see everything in my mind's eye," John said, as we examined the key areas mentioned in the proceedings – from the location, where his brother was fatally wounded, to the adjoining the courtyard, where one victim and the second person were fatally wounded.
"It returns me to where I was that day.
"I assisted with my brother and lay him in the medical transport.
"I relived every moment during the evidence.
"Notwithstanding enduring all that – it's still valuable for me."