The Way this Trial of a Former Soldier Over the 1972 Londonderry Incident Concluded in Acquittal

Sunday 30 January 1972 remains one of the most fatal – and significant – occasions in three decades of unrest in Northern Ireland.

Throughout the area where it happened – the images of that fateful day are visible on the buildings and etched in public consciousness.

A protest demonstration was conducted on a chilly yet clear period in Derry.

The march was challenging the system of detention without trial – imprisoning people without legal proceedings – which had been implemented after multiple years of violence.

Troops from the Parachute Regiment fatally wounded multiple civilians in the neighborhood – which was, and remains, a strongly nationalist community.

A specific visual became particularly iconic.

Images showed a religious figure, Father Daly, displaying a stained with blood white handkerchief while attempting to protect a group transporting a youth, the fatally wounded individual, who had been mortally injured.

Journalists recorded extensive video on the day.

Historical records features Father Daly informing a journalist that soldiers "appeared to fire in all directions" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no justification for the discharge of weapons.

That version of the incident wasn't accepted by the first inquiry.

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

In the resolution efforts, Tony Blair's government commissioned a fresh examination, following pressure by family members, who said the first investigation had been a whitewash.

That year, the findings by the investigation said that overall, the soldiers had discharged weapons initially and that zero among the casualties had presented danger.

The then head of state, David Cameron, expressed regret in the House of Commons – saying deaths were "without justification and unacceptable."

Law enforcement began to investigate the events.

An ex-soldier, identified as the defendant, was brought to trial for killing.

Accusations were made concerning the killings of the first individual, twenty-two, and in his mid-twenties the second individual.

Soldier F was additionally charged of trying to kill several people, other civilians, Joe Mahon, Michael Quinn, and an unnamed civilian.

Remains a legal order preserving the soldier's anonymity, which his legal team have argued is required because he is at risk of attack.

He testified the examination that he had only fired at persons who were possessing firearms.

This assertion was dismissed in the final report.

Material from the inquiry would not be used immediately as testimony in the court case.

In court, the defendant was screened from view behind a protective barrier.

He made statements for the opening instance in the proceedings at a proceeding in late 2024, to answer "innocent" when the allegations were presented.

Family members of the victims on Bloody Sunday travelled from Derry to Belfast Crown Court each day of the trial.

One relative, whose relative was died, said they always knew that listening to the case would be difficult.

"I can see all details in my recollection," the relative said, as we visited the main locations discussed in the case – from Rossville Street, where his brother was fatally wounded, to the adjoining the area, where the individual and another victim were died.

"It returns me to where I was that day.

"I helped to carry Michael and put him in the ambulance.

"I went through every moment during the proceedings.

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