The Way the Trial of an Army Veteran Over the 1972 Londonderry Incident Concluded in Acquittal

Youths in a confrontation with army troops on Bloody Sunday
Youths in a stand-off with British soldiers on Bloody Sunday

Sunday 30 January 1972 remains among the deadliest – and momentous – occasions during thirty years of conflict in this area.

Throughout the area where events unfolded – the memories of that fateful day are painted on the structures and embedded in public consciousness.

A civil rights march was organized on a chilly yet clear afternoon in Derry.

The protest was challenging the system of detention without trial – imprisoning people without legal proceedings – which had been established following an extended period of conflict.

Father Daly waved a bloodied fabric in an effort to shield a crowd moving a young man, Jackie Duddy
A Catholic priest displayed a white cloth stained with blood in an effort to shield a assembly moving a youth, the fatally wounded youth

Troops from the specialized division killed thirteen individuals in the Bogside area – which was, and remains, a strongly republican community.

A particular photograph became especially prominent.

Images showed a religious figure, Father Daly, waving a blood-stained cloth in his effort to defend a group carrying a teenager, Jackie Duddy, who had been fatally wounded.

Media personnel documented extensive video on the day.

Documented accounts includes Fr Daly telling a media representative that military personnel "just seemed to shoot indiscriminately" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no justification for the shooting.

Individuals in the neighborhood being directed to detention by British troops on Bloody Sunday
Individuals in the district being marched towards detention by military personnel on Bloody Sunday

The narrative of what happened was disputed by the first inquiry.

The first investigation concluded the Army had been attacked first.

Throughout the negotiation period, the ruling party established a new investigation, after campaigning by surviving kin, who said the initial inquiry had been a cover-up.

During 2010, the findings by the inquiry said that overall, the soldiers had fired first and that none of the victims had presented danger.

At that time head of state, David Cameron, apologised in the Parliament – stating fatalities were "unjustified and inexcusable."

Families of the victims of the tragic event fatalities process from the neighborhood of the city to the municipal center carrying pictures of their family members
Kin of the casualties of the 1972 incident killings process from the neighborhood of Londonderry to the civic building displaying images of their relatives

Law enforcement started to investigate the incident.

An ex-soldier, identified as the accused, was brought to trial for homicide.

Accusations were made over the fatalities of the first individual, 22, and 26-year-old the second individual.

The defendant was also accused of seeking to harm multiple individuals, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon, another person, and an unnamed civilian.

There is a legal order maintaining the defendant's anonymity, which his attorneys have claimed is required because he is at threat.

He testified the investigation that he had solely shot at individuals who were armed.

This assertion was rejected in the final report.

Information from the examination would not be used straightforwardly as evidence in the legal proceedings.

In court, the defendant was shielded from sight behind a privacy screen.

He addressed the court for the first time in the hearing at a hearing in late 2024, to respond "not guilty" when the charges were read.

Family members and allies of the deceased on Bloody Sunday display a placard and images of the victims
Kin and allies of the deceased on the incident carry a banner and photos of those killed

Family members of the deceased on that day made the trip from Derry to Belfast Crown Court every day of the case.

One relative, whose sibling was killed, said they were aware that listening to the trial would be painful.

"I can see all details in my mind's eye," the relative said, as we walked around the main locations discussed in the proceedings – from the location, where his brother was fatally wounded, to the nearby Glenfada Park, where one victim and the second person were killed.

"It returns me to where I was that day.

"I participated in moving the victim and lay him in the ambulance.

"I relived the entire event during the evidence.

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

One victim (left) and William McKinney (right) were included who were died on Bloody Sunday
Henry Johnston
Henry Johnston

A passionate traveler and storyteller who finds magic in every corner of the world, sharing insights and experiences to inspire wanderlust.