The Way this Trial of an Army Veteran Regarding the 1972 Londonderry Incident Ended in Not Guilty Verdict

Youths in a tense situation with military personnel on Bloody Sunday
Protesters in a stand-off with army troops on Bloody Sunday

Sunday 30 January 1972 stands as arguably the most deadly – and consequential – days in multiple decades of violence in the region.

In the streets where it happened – the legacy of Bloody Sunday are visible on the structures and etched in public consciousness.

A civil rights march was organized on a wintry, sunny period in Londonderry.

The march was opposing the system of imprisonment without charges – imprisoning people without due process – which had been put in place in response to an extended period of violence.

A Catholic priest waved a white cloth stained with blood while attempting to protect a crowd moving a young man, the injured teenager
Father Daly used a white cloth stained with blood in an effort to protect a group transporting a teenager, Jackie Duddy

Troops from the specialized division killed 13 people in the district – which was, and continues to be, a overwhelmingly republican area.

One image became particularly iconic.

Pictures showed a clergyman, Father Daly, waving a blood-stained white handkerchief as he tried to shield a crowd transporting a young man, Jackie Duddy, who had been mortally injured.

News camera operators recorded extensive video on the day.

The archive features the priest telling a reporter that soldiers "appeared to fire in all directions" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no reason for the gunfire.

Civilians in the district being directed to custody by military personnel on Bloody Sunday
Individuals in the district being marched towards arrest by British troops on Bloody Sunday

This account of events was rejected by the original examination.

The Widgery Tribunal determined the soldiers had been attacked first.

In the peace process, the administration established a fresh examination, following pressure by surviving kin, who said the initial inquiry had been a whitewash.

That year, the report by Lord Saville said that on balance, the soldiers had discharged weapons initially and that none of the casualties had been armed.

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

Kin of the victims of the Bloody Sunday killings walk from the neighborhood of Londonderry to the Guildhall displaying pictures of their loved ones
Families of the deceased of the 1972 incident shootings march from the district of Derry to the civic building displaying pictures of their loved ones

Authorities began to look into the incident.

An ex-soldier, identified as the accused, was charged for killing.

Indictments were filed regarding the fatalities of one victim, 22, and 26-year-old William McKinney.

The defendant was further implicated of seeking to harm several people, Joseph Friel, more people, an additional individual, and an unnamed civilian.

There is a legal order maintaining the veteran's privacy, which his legal team have argued is necessary because he is at threat.

He testified the Saville Inquiry that he had solely shot at persons who were armed.

This assertion was dismissed in the concluding document.

Evidence from the investigation was unable to be used straightforwardly as proof in the court case.

In court, the defendant was shielded from sight with a privacy screen.

He spoke for the initial occasion in the proceedings at a session in late 2024, to answer "not guilty" when the allegations were read.

Kin and allies of those killed on the incident carry a sign and images of the deceased
Family members and supporters of those killed on the incident hold a placard and images of the deceased

Relatives of those who were killed on the incident made the trip from Derry to Belfast Crown Court each day of the trial.

John Kelly, whose sibling was killed, said they understood that attending the case would be difficult.

"I visualize everything in my recollection," he said, as we walked around the main locations referenced in the trial – from the street, where his brother was shot dead, to the adjoining the courtyard, where the individual and William McKinney were killed.

"It returns me to my location that day.

"I assisted with the victim and put him in the vehicle.

"I relived the entire event during the testimony.

"Notwithstanding enduring the process – it's still worthwhile for me."

One victim (left) and Another victim (right) were among those who were killed on the incident
Patrick Torres
Patrick Torres

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