How the Trial of an Army Veteran Regarding the 1972 Londonderry Incident Ended in Not Guilty Verdict
Sunday 30 January 1972 is remembered as arguably the most deadly – and consequential – dates throughout thirty years of conflict in Northern Ireland.
Within the community of the incident – the legacy of that fateful day are visible on the buildings and embedded in people's minds.
A civil rights march was organized on a cold but bright afternoon in Londonderry.
The protest was opposing the practice of internment – imprisoning people without due process – which had been implemented following multiple years of conflict.
Military personnel from the Parachute Regiment shot dead 13 people in the district – which was, and remains, a overwhelmingly republican area.
A particular photograph became particularly iconic.
Images showed a Catholic priest, Father Daly, displaying a blood-stained white handkerchief as he tried to shield a group transporting a young man, the fatally wounded individual, who had been fatally wounded.
News camera operators recorded extensive video on the day.
Historical records features Father Daly informing a reporter that troops "appeared to fire in all directions" and he was "completely sure" that there was no provocation for the shooting.
This account of what happened was rejected by the initial investigation.
The Widgery Tribunal determined the military had been fired upon initially.
In the resolution efforts, the ruling party established a fresh examination, following pressure by family members, who said the initial inquiry had been a whitewash.
During 2010, the conclusion by the inquiry said that generally, the military personnel had discharged weapons initially and that none of the victims had presented danger.
The contemporary head of state, David Cameron, issued an apology in the Parliament – declaring fatalities were "without justification and inexcusable."
Law enforcement commenced examine the events.
An ex-soldier, known as the defendant, was brought to trial for murder.
Accusations were made over the killings of one victim, 22, and 26-year-old the second individual.
Soldier F was further implicated of trying to kill multiple individuals, other civilians, more people, another person, and an unidentified individual.
Remains a court ruling maintaining the veteran's identity protection, which his attorneys have maintained is required because he is at threat.
He stated to the Saville Inquiry that he had solely shot at individuals who were carrying weapons.
The statement was disputed in the official findings.
Information from the examination would not be used straightforwardly as evidence in the criminal process.
In court, the accused was screened from view behind a privacy screen.
He made statements for the opening instance in court at a session in late 2024, to reply "not responsible" when the charges were read.
Family members of the victims on the incident travelled from Derry to Belfast Crown Court each day of the case.
One relative, whose relative was fatally wounded, said they always knew that hearing the trial would be difficult.
"I remember everything in my recollection," John said, as we walked around the main locations discussed in the proceedings – from the location, where the victim was killed, to the adjoining the area, where James Wray and another victim were died.
"It reminds me to my location that day.
"I assisted with Michael and lay him in the vehicle.
"I experienced again each detail during the evidence.
"Notwithstanding having to go through the process – it's still valuable for me."