How the Legal Case of a Former Soldier Regarding Bloody Sunday Ended in Case Dismissal
Sunday 30 January 1972 remains arguably the most deadly – and significant – dates throughout multiple decades of conflict in Northern Ireland.
Throughout the area of the incident – the images of that fateful day are visible on the structures and etched in public consciousness.
A civil rights march was organized on a chilly yet clear afternoon in the city.
The demonstration was challenging the system of detention without trial – imprisoning people without due process – which had been implemented following three years of violence.
Soldiers from the Parachute Regiment killed multiple civilians in the Bogside area – which was, and still is, a strongly Irish nationalist community.
One image became notably memorable.
Images showed a religious figure, Fr Edward Daly, using a blood-stained white handkerchief in his effort to defend a crowd moving a young man, the fatally wounded individual, who had been fatally wounded.
Media personnel recorded extensive video on the day.
Historical records contains Fr Daly informing a reporter that soldiers "appeared to fire in all directions" and he was "completely sure" that there was no provocation for the discharge of weapons.
That version of events wasn't accepted by the first inquiry.
The initial inquiry concluded the soldiers had been attacked first.
In the resolution efforts, the ruling party established a fresh examination, after campaigning by family members, who said the first investigation had been a whitewash.
That year, the report by Lord Saville said that on balance, the paratroopers had initiated shooting and that not one of the victims had presented danger.
At that time head of state, the leader, apologised in the government chamber – declaring deaths were "improper and unjustifiable."
Law enforcement started to look into the matter.
One former paratrooper, known as the accused, was charged for murder.
Accusations were made concerning the deaths of James Wray, twenty-two, and twenty-six-year-old William McKinney.
The defendant was further implicated of seeking to harm several people, other civilians, more people, an additional individual, and an unnamed civilian.
There is a judicial decision protecting the soldier's identity protection, which his attorneys have claimed is essential because he is at danger.
He stated to the investigation that he had solely shot at persons who were armed.
This assertion was disputed in the official findings.
Material from the inquiry was unable to be used directly as proof in the court case.
In the dock, the defendant was screened from view with a privacy screen.
He spoke for the opening instance in the hearing at a session in late 2024, to reply "innocent" when the charges were presented.
Relatives of the victims on Bloody Sunday made the trip from the city to Belfast Crown Court daily of the trial.
John Kelly, whose brother Michael was killed, said they understood that attending the trial would be difficult.
"I visualize everything in my mind's eye," the relative said, as we walked around the key areas discussed in the trial – from the location, where the victim was killed, to the adjoining the courtyard, where one victim and the second person were fatally wounded.
"It returns me to my position that day.
"I participated in moving my brother and lay him in the vehicle.
"I relived every moment during the evidence.
"But even with having to go through everything – it's still worthwhile for me."