The Way the Trial of a Former Soldier Regarding Bloody Sunday Concluded in Case Dismissal

Protesters in a tense situation with military personnel on Bloody Sunday
Protesters in a tense situation with British soldiers on Bloody Sunday

Sunday 30 January 1972 remains one of the most deadly – and momentous – dates throughout three decades of conflict in the region.

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

A civil rights march was held on a wintry, sunny day in the city.

The demonstration was a protest against the system of detention without trial – imprisoning people without trial – which had been implemented following an extended period of conflict.

A Catholic priest used a bloodied fabric while attempting to shield a crowd moving a youth, the fatally wounded youth
Fr Edward Daly used a blood-stained handkerchief in an effort to protect a crowd carrying a youth, the injured teenager

Troops from the specialized division killed multiple civilians in the Bogside area – which was, and still is, a predominantly nationalist community.

One image became especially memorable.

Images showed a Catholic priest, Father Daly, displaying a blood-stained cloth in his effort to shield a assembly transporting a young man, Jackie Duddy, who had been mortally injured.

Media personnel captured considerable film on the day.

The archive includes Fr Daly explaining to a media representative that soldiers "just seemed to fire in all directions" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no justification for the gunfire.

Protesters in the neighborhood being marched towards arrest by soldiers on Bloody Sunday
Civilians in the district being directed to detention by soldiers on Bloody Sunday

That version of what happened was rejected by the initial investigation.

The initial inquiry found the Army had been fired upon initially.

Throughout the peace process, the administration set up another inquiry, after campaigning by family members, who said the first investigation had been a whitewash.

During 2010, the conclusion by Lord Saville said that generally, the soldiers had fired first and that not one of the casualties had presented danger.

At that time Prime Minister, the leader, expressed regret in the Parliament – saying deaths were "unjustified and unjustifiable."

Relatives of the victims of the 1972 incident killings walk from the neighborhood of Londonderry to the Guildhall holding images of their family members
Relatives of the casualties of the tragic event killings march from the district of Londonderry to the Guildhall carrying images of their loved ones

Authorities started to investigate the incident.

One former paratrooper, referred to as Soldier F, was brought to trial for murder.

Indictments were filed over the deaths of James Wray, 22, and 26-year-old the second individual.

Soldier F was additionally charged of trying to kill multiple individuals, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon, an additional individual, and an unidentified individual.

Remains a legal order preserving the defendant's anonymity, which his lawyers have argued is required because he is at threat.

He told the Saville Inquiry that he had solely shot at people who were carrying weapons.

This assertion was disputed in the concluding document.

Material from the examination could not be used straightforwardly as proof in the court case.

In the dock, the defendant was screened from view using a privacy screen.

He made statements for the initial occasion in the hearing at a proceeding in late 2024, to respond "not guilty" when the charges were presented.

Kin and advocates of the deceased on that day carry a banner and photographs of the victims
Relatives and advocates of the victims on that day display a placard and images of those killed

Family members of the deceased on the incident journeyed from Derry to the judicial building each day of the proceedings.

One relative, whose brother Michael was died, said they were aware that hearing the case would be difficult.

"I can see all details in my mind's eye," the relative said, as we walked around the key areas mentioned in the proceedings – from Rossville Street, where the victim was shot dead, to the adjacent the area, where James Wray and another victim were fatally wounded.

"It reminds me to where I was that day.

"I participated in moving the victim and lay him in the medical transport.

"I experienced again the entire event during the proceedings.

"But even with experiencing the process – it's still valuable for me."

James Wray (left) and Another victim (right) were part of who were killed on the incident
Toni Sullivan
Toni Sullivan

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