How this Prosecution of an Army Veteran Over the 1972 Londonderry Incident Ended in Case Dismissal

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

January 30th, 1972 remains among the deadliest – and significant – days throughout multiple decades of unrest in this area.

In the streets where events unfolded – the images of Bloody Sunday are displayed on the walls and embedded in people's minds.

A public gathering was held on a wintry, sunny afternoon in the city.

The protest was challenging the practice of internment – imprisoning people without trial – which had been put in place after an extended period of unrest.

Father Daly displayed a white cloth stained with blood while attempting to shield a assembly carrying a youth, the fatally wounded youth
Fr Edward Daly displayed a bloodied fabric while attempting to protect a group transporting a young man, the fatally wounded youth

Soldiers from the Parachute Regiment shot dead multiple civilians in the district – which was, and continues to be, a predominantly Irish nationalist community.

A particular photograph became notably memorable.

Photographs showed a religious figure, the priest, displaying a blood-stained white handkerchief in his effort to protect a crowd moving a teenager, Jackie Duddy, who had been fatally wounded.

Journalists documented extensive video on the day.

The archive contains the priest informing a reporter that military personnel "appeared to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "completely sure" that there was no provocation for the discharge of weapons.

Individuals in the district being directed to detention by soldiers on Bloody Sunday
Protesters in the Bogside area being taken to arrest by British troops on Bloody Sunday

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

The Widgery Tribunal determined the Army had been attacked first.

Throughout the resolution efforts, Tony Blair's government established a new investigation, after campaigning by surviving kin, who said the first investigation had been a cover-up.

During 2010, the report by the investigation said that overall, the military personnel had fired first and that none of the casualties had posed any threat.

The contemporary head of state, the leader, expressed regret in the House of Commons – saying fatalities were "without justification and inexcusable."

Relatives of the casualties of the tragic event fatalities walk from the district of Derry to the municipal center carrying photographs of their relatives
Families of the deceased of the Bloody Sunday fatalities march from the neighborhood of Londonderry to the municipal center carrying pictures of their relatives

The police began to look into the events.

An ex-soldier, identified as the accused, was prosecuted for homicide.

Accusations were made regarding the deaths of James Wray, 22, and 26-year-old the second individual.

Soldier F was further implicated of trying to kill Patrick O'Donnell, Joseph Friel, further individuals, Michael Quinn, and an unnamed civilian.

Remains a judicial decision maintaining the soldier's anonymity, which his lawyers have claimed is necessary because he is at danger.

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

This assertion was disputed in the final report.

Evidence from the investigation could not be used immediately as evidence in the court case.

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

He made statements for the initial occasion in the proceedings at a session in that month, to reply "not guilty" when the accusations were put to him.

Relatives and supporters of the victims on that day hold a sign and images of those killed
Kin and allies of the deceased on that day display a sign and images of the deceased

Kin of the deceased on that day travelled from Londonderry to Belfast Crown Court every day of the trial.

One relative, whose relative was fatally wounded, said they were aware that attending the case would be emotional.

"I can see all details in my recollection," John said, as we examined the main locations mentioned in the proceedings – from Rossville Street, where the victim was fatally wounded, to the adjacent the courtyard, where the individual and another victim were died.

"It returns me to my position that day.

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

"I relived each detail during the evidence.

"But even with enduring everything – it's still valuable for me."

James Wray (left) and William McKinney (right) were part of who were fatally wounded on Bloody Sunday
Luis Zimmerman
Luis Zimmerman

A passionate photographer and digital artist with over a decade of experience, specializing in landscape and abstract imagery.