How this Legal Case of an Army Veteran Regarding the 1972 Londonderry Incident Ended in Not Guilty Verdict

Protesters in a stand-off with military personnel on Bloody Sunday
Protesters in a confrontation with British soldiers on Bloody Sunday

Sunday 30 January 1972 remains among the most deadly – and consequential – dates in thirty years of unrest in the region.

In the streets where events unfolded – the images of the tragic events are displayed on the buildings and etched in people's minds.

A public gathering was conducted on a cold but bright afternoon in Derry.

The protest was challenging the system of imprisonment without charges – holding suspects without trial – which had been put in place in response to an extended period of violence.

Father Daly displayed a white cloth stained with blood in an effort to defend a group transporting a teenager, the injured teenager
Fr Edward Daly waved a white cloth stained with blood while attempting to protect a group transporting a youth, the fatally wounded youth

Troops from the Parachute Regiment fatally wounded thirteen individuals in the Bogside area – which was, and remains, a strongly nationalist community.

A specific visual became notably memorable.

Pictures showed a Catholic priest, the priest, using a stained with blood fabric as he tried to defend a group carrying a youth, the injured teenager, who had been fatally wounded.

Media personnel documented extensive video on the day.

The archive contains Fr Daly telling a media representative that soldiers "appeared to shoot indiscriminately" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no justification for the discharge of weapons.

Protesters in the neighborhood being directed to arrest by British troops on Bloody Sunday
Civilians in the Bogside area being directed to arrest by soldiers on Bloody Sunday

The narrative of what happened was rejected by the original examination.

The initial inquiry found the soldiers had been attacked first.

During the peace process, the ruling party set up a new investigation, after campaigning by surviving kin, who said the first investigation had been a inadequate investigation.

During 2010, the conclusion by Lord Saville said that on balance, the soldiers had discharged weapons initially and that none of the casualties had presented danger.

The then government leader, the Prime Minister, apologised in the Parliament – declaring killings were "unjustified and unjustifiable."

Kin of the victims of the 1972 incident fatalities walk from the district of Derry to the Guildhall carrying images of their relatives
Relatives of the deceased of the Bloody Sunday fatalities march from the Bogside area of Londonderry to the civic building carrying images of their relatives

The police started to investigate the matter.

A military veteran, referred to as the accused, was charged for killing.

Accusations were made over the killings of James Wray, in his twenties, and 26-year-old William McKinney.

Soldier F was additionally charged of seeking to harm Patrick O'Donnell, Joseph Friel, further individuals, an additional individual, and an unknown person.

Exists a judicial decision protecting the defendant's privacy, which his legal team have claimed is necessary because he is at threat.

He stated to the investigation that he had solely shot at people who were armed.

This assertion was dismissed in the concluding document.

Evidence from the examination could not be used directly as evidence in the criminal process.

During the trial, the veteran was screened from view with a protective barrier.

He made statements for the first time in the hearing at a session in December 2024, to respond "innocent" when the accusations were presented.

Kin and allies of the victims on Bloody Sunday carry a banner and images of the deceased
Kin and supporters of those killed on Bloody Sunday display a placard and images of the deceased

Kin of the deceased on Bloody Sunday journeyed from Londonderry to the judicial building each day of the trial.

A family member, whose brother Michael was fatally wounded, said they understood that listening to the proceedings would be emotional.

"I remember everything in my memory," the relative said, as we examined the key areas discussed in the trial – from the street, where the victim was killed, to the adjacent the area, where one victim and the second person were died.

"It reminds me to where I was that day.

"I assisted with my brother and place him in the ambulance.

"I went through each detail during the evidence.

"Notwithstanding having to go through the process – it's still meaningful for me."

James Wray (left) and William McKinney (right) were included who were died on the incident
George Brown
George Brown

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