The Way the Trial of a Former Soldier Regarding the 1972 Londonderry Incident Ended in Acquittal

Protesters in a stand-off with military personnel on Bloody Sunday
Youths in a confrontation with army troops on Bloody Sunday

Sunday 30 January 1972 stands as arguably the most deadly – and consequential – days during three decades of unrest in Northern Ireland.

Within the community where it happened – the memories of the tragic events are painted on the buildings and etched in collective memory.

A public gathering was organized on a chilly yet clear period in the city.

The march was opposing the system of imprisonment without charges – detaining individuals without legal proceedings – which had been put in place in response to three years of conflict.

Fr Edward Daly displayed a white cloth stained with blood in an effort to shield a crowd moving a teenager, Jackie Duddy
A Catholic priest waved a bloodied fabric while attempting to protect a assembly carrying a young man, the injured teenager

Soldiers from the Parachute Regiment killed 13 people in the Bogside area – which was, and remains, a strongly nationalist community.

One image became particularly prominent.

Pictures showed a religious figure, Fr Edward Daly, displaying a bloodied fabric in his effort to shield a group carrying a teenager, the injured teenager, who had been killed.

Media personnel captured considerable film on the day.

The archive includes Fr Daly informing a reporter that soldiers "appeared to fire in all directions" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no provocation for the shooting.

Civilians in the Bogside area being taken to arrest by military personnel on Bloody Sunday
Individuals in the neighborhood being directed to arrest by soldiers on Bloody Sunday

That version of events was disputed by the initial investigation.

The initial inquiry concluded the military had been fired upon initially.

Throughout the negotiation period, the administration commissioned a new investigation, in response to advocacy by family members, who said the initial inquiry had been a inadequate investigation.

In 2010, the conclusion by Lord Saville said that overall, the military personnel had initiated shooting and that none of the casualties had presented danger.

The contemporary Prime Minister, the leader, apologised in the House of Commons – saying killings were "improper and unacceptable."

Families of the deceased of the Bloody Sunday shootings walk from the district of the city to the civic building displaying photographs of their relatives
Relatives of the victims of the Bloody Sunday killings process from the neighborhood of the city to the civic building holding images of their loved ones

The police started to look into the incident.

One former paratrooper, known as the defendant, was brought to trial for homicide.

Indictments were filed concerning the killings of one victim, in his twenties, and twenty-six-year-old another victim.

Soldier F was further implicated of attempting to murder several people, additional persons, Joe Mahon, another person, and an unknown person.

There is a legal order maintaining the defendant's identity protection, which his lawyers have argued is required because he is at threat.

He stated to the Saville Inquiry that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at people who were possessing firearms.

That claim was disputed in the official findings.

Evidence from the examination could not be used immediately as testimony in the court case.

In court, the veteran was hidden from public using a blue curtain.

He addressed the court for the opening instance in the proceedings at a proceeding in late 2024, to answer "not guilty" when the charges were read.

Family members and supporters of the victims on that day hold a placard and photographs of the victims
Family members and supporters of the victims on that day carry a placard and images of the victims

Relatives of those who were killed on Bloody Sunday journeyed from Derry to the courthouse every day of the trial.

A family member, whose brother Michael was died, said they always knew that hearing the proceedings would be emotional.

"I remember the events in my mind's eye," the relative said, as we walked around the main locations discussed in the trial – from the location, where his brother was fatally wounded, to the nearby the area, where one victim and another victim were killed.

"It even takes me back to where I was that day.

"I assisted with Michael and put him in the ambulance.

"I relived every moment during the evidence.

"Notwithstanding enduring the process – it's still worthwhile for me."

One victim (left) and Another victim (right) were included who were died on the incident
Megan Caldwell
Megan Caldwell

A passionate horticulturist with over 15 years of experience in organic gardening and landscape design.