The Way this Legal Case of a Former Soldier Over the 1972 Londonderry Incident Concluded in Case Dismissal
Sunday 30 January 1972 stands as one of the most fatal – and significant – dates throughout thirty years of violence in the region.
Within the community where events unfolded – the legacy of the tragic events are painted on the buildings and etched in public consciousness.
A protest demonstration was organized on a wintry, sunny period in Derry.
The protest was opposing the policy of detention without trial – detaining individuals without due process – which had been put in place following an extended period of unrest.
Soldiers from the Parachute Regiment killed 13 people in the Bogside area – which was, and remains, a overwhelmingly nationalist community.
One image became particularly memorable.
Pictures showed a clergyman, the priest, waving a blood-stained white handkerchief in his effort to protect a assembly transporting a youth, the injured teenager, who had been mortally injured.
News camera operators documented extensive video on the day.
Historical records includes Fr Daly explaining to a media representative that military personnel "appeared to fire in all directions" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no reason for the shooting.
The narrative of the incident wasn't accepted by the initial investigation.
The initial inquiry found the Army had been attacked first.
During the negotiation period, Tony Blair's government established another inquiry, in response to advocacy by bereaved relatives, who said the first investigation had been a inadequate investigation.
That year, the report by the inquiry said that on balance, the soldiers had discharged weapons initially and that none of the victims had presented danger.
At that time government leader, David Cameron, expressed regret in the House of Commons – declaring deaths were "unjustified and unacceptable."
Law enforcement began to look into the events.
One former paratrooper, known as Soldier F, was brought to trial for killing.
He was charged concerning the killings of James Wray, in his twenties, and 26-year-old another victim.
Soldier F was further implicated of trying to kill multiple individuals, additional persons, Joe Mahon, another person, and an unidentified individual.
There is a court ruling preserving the defendant's identity protection, which his lawyers have argued is necessary because he is at danger.
He testified the Saville Inquiry that he had solely shot at individuals who were carrying weapons.
That claim was dismissed in the final report.
Material from the examination would not be used straightforwardly as evidence in the legal proceedings.
In the dock, the accused was screened from view using a privacy screen.
He made statements for the initial occasion in court at a proceeding in that month, to respond "not guilty" when the charges were presented.
Relatives of the victims on Bloody Sunday journeyed from Derry to the judicial building every day of the trial.
John Kelly, whose relative was died, said they were aware that attending the case would be emotional.
"I visualize everything in my memory," John said, as we walked around the primary sites mentioned in the case – from Rossville Street, where his brother was fatally wounded, to the nearby Glenfada Park, where the individual and another victim were died.
"It reminds me to where I was that day.
"I assisted with Michael and place him in the vehicle.
"I relived the entire event during the testimony.
"Notwithstanding experiencing the process – it's still worthwhile for me."