The Way this Trial of an Army Veteran Over Bloody Sunday Ended in Acquittal
Sunday 30 January 1972 is remembered as among the most fatal – and momentous – days throughout three decades of conflict in this area.
Within the community where events unfolded – the images of that fateful day are visible on the structures and seared in public consciousness.
A civil rights march was held on a cold but bright afternoon in Londonderry.
The demonstration was opposing the policy of detention without trial – imprisoning people without due process – which had been implemented following multiple years of violence.
Troops from the elite army unit shot dead thirteen individuals in the district – which was, and remains, a overwhelmingly Irish nationalist community.
A particular photograph became particularly prominent.
Pictures showed a Catholic priest, Father Daly, waving a bloodied fabric as he tried to shield a assembly moving a teenager, Jackie Duddy, who had been fatally wounded.
Journalists documented extensive video on the day.
The archive features Father Daly informing a reporter that soldiers "appeared to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "completely sure" that there was no provocation for the shooting.
This account of events was rejected by the first inquiry.
The first investigation concluded the soldiers had been attacked first.
Throughout the resolution efforts, the administration set up another inquiry, following pressure by family members, who said the first investigation had been a inadequate investigation.
During 2010, the conclusion by the inquiry said that on balance, the paratroopers had initiated shooting and that zero among the individuals had been armed.
At that time head of state, the leader, expressed regret in the House of Commons – saying fatalities were "improper and inexcusable."
Authorities commenced investigate the events.
One former paratrooper, identified as the accused, was charged for homicide.
Indictments were filed concerning the killings of the first individual, in his twenties, and in his mid-twenties another victim.
The defendant was also accused of trying to kill Patrick O'Donnell, other civilians, further individuals, an additional individual, and an unknown person.
Exists a legal order protecting the soldier's identity protection, which his legal team have argued is necessary because he is at danger.
He stated to the examination that he had only fired at people who were carrying weapons.
That claim was dismissed in the official findings.
Material from the inquiry would not be used immediately as testimony in the criminal process.
In court, the defendant was screened from view using a privacy screen.
He spoke for the opening instance in the proceedings at a hearing in late 2024, to answer "innocent" when the charges were put to him.
Family members of the deceased on Bloody Sunday journeyed from the city to Belfast Crown Court every day of the trial.
John Kelly, whose sibling was fatally wounded, said they understood that listening to the trial would be emotional.
"I visualize all details in my recollection," he said, as we visited the main locations mentioned in the proceedings – from the street, where Michael was fatally wounded, to the adjoining the courtyard, where the individual and another victim were fatally wounded.
"It even takes me back to my location that day.
"I assisted with the victim and lay him in the medical transport.
"I experienced again the entire event during the evidence.
"Notwithstanding experiencing the process – it's still worthwhile for me."