The Way this Prosecution of a Former Soldier Regarding the 1972 Londonderry Incident Concluded in Case Dismissal

Sunday 30 January 1972 stands as one of the most fatal – and consequential – occasions throughout three decades of unrest in this area.

Within the community of the incident – the legacy of Bloody Sunday are displayed on the walls and embedded in people's minds.

A protest demonstration was conducted on a cold but bright day in Londonderry.

The protest was opposing the policy of imprisonment without charges – imprisoning people without legal proceedings – which had been implemented following multiple years of unrest.

Soldiers from the specialized division killed multiple civilians in the neighborhood – which was, and remains, a strongly republican area.

A particular photograph became especially memorable.

Photographs showed a clergyman, the priest, using a stained with blood fabric while attempting to protect a crowd moving a young man, Jackie Duddy, who had been mortally injured.

Journalists captured extensive video on the day.

The archive includes Fr Daly informing a media representative that troops "gave the impression they would discharge weapons randomly" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no provocation for the shooting.

This account of events was disputed by the original examination.

The Widgery Tribunal determined the military had been attacked first.

Throughout the resolution efforts, Tony Blair's government commissioned another inquiry, in response to advocacy by surviving kin, who said the initial inquiry had been a whitewash.

During 2010, the findings by the investigation said that overall, the paratroopers had initiated shooting and that none of the casualties had been armed.

The then head of state, the leader, apologised in the Parliament – declaring deaths were "unjustified and inexcusable."

Law enforcement commenced examine the events.

One former paratrooper, identified as Soldier F, was prosecuted for homicide.

He was charged over the fatalities of James Wray, 22, and in his mid-twenties another victim.

The defendant was additionally charged of attempting to murder Patrick O'Donnell, other civilians, more people, Michael Quinn, and an unidentified individual.

There is a judicial decision preserving the veteran's anonymity, which his attorneys have argued is required because he is at risk of attack.

He told the investigation that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at people who were possessing firearms.

The statement was dismissed in the concluding document.

Evidence from the inquiry was unable to be used immediately as testimony in the criminal process.

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

He spoke for the first time in court at a proceeding in December 2024, to respond "not guilty" when the charges were put to him.

Relatives of those who were killed on the incident made the trip from Londonderry to the judicial building daily of the proceedings.

John Kelly, whose brother Michael was killed, said they always knew that attending the proceedings would be painful.

"I can see the events in my mind's eye," John said, as we walked around the primary sites referenced in the trial – from Rossville Street, where his brother was killed, to the nearby Glenfada Park, where the individual and another victim were fatally wounded.

"It reminds me to where I was that day.

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

"I relived every moment during the testimony.

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