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

Youths in a tense situation with army troops on Bloody Sunday
Protesters in a tense situation with army troops on Bloody Sunday

January 30th, 1972 remains arguably the most deadly – and momentous – dates throughout thirty years of violence in Northern Ireland.

In the streets of the incident – the memories of the tragic events are visible on the walls and embedded in people's minds.

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

The march was a protest against the system of internment – holding suspects without legal proceedings – which had been established following an extended period of unrest.

Fr Edward Daly used a bloodied fabric in an effort to shield a assembly transporting a young man, the fatally wounded youth
A Catholic priest waved a blood-stained handkerchief as he tried to defend a group carrying a youth, the fatally wounded youth

Military personnel from the elite army unit fatally wounded multiple civilians in the neighborhood – which was, and continues to be, a overwhelmingly republican population.

One image became especially prominent.

Pictures showed a Catholic priest, Fr Edward Daly, using a blood-stained cloth while attempting to defend a group carrying a youth, the injured teenager, who had been mortally injured.

News camera operators documented much footage on the day.

The archive features the priest explaining to a media representative that troops "appeared to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no provocation for the gunfire.

Civilians in the Bogside area being taken to custody by military personnel on Bloody Sunday
Individuals in the neighborhood being marched towards detention by British troops on Bloody Sunday

That version of events wasn't accepted by the original examination.

The first investigation found the soldiers had been fired upon initially.

During the resolution efforts, the ruling party set up another inquiry, following pressure by surviving kin, who said the first investigation had been a whitewash.

During 2010, the conclusion by the investigation said that generally, the paratroopers had initiated shooting and that zero among the casualties had been armed.

The contemporary Prime Minister, the leader, expressed regret in the House of Commons – declaring deaths were "unjustified and unacceptable."

Relatives of the casualties of the 1972 incident killings walk from the neighborhood of Londonderry to the municipal center displaying images of their family members
Kin of the casualties of the Bloody Sunday killings walk from the district of Londonderry to the municipal center carrying images of their relatives

The police commenced investigate the events.

A military veteran, identified as the defendant, was charged for homicide.

Accusations were made over the deaths of the first individual, twenty-two, and in his mid-twenties William McKinney.

The accused was also accused of attempting to murder Patrick O'Donnell, additional persons, Joe Mahon, an additional individual, and an unidentified individual.

There is a judicial decision preserving the soldier's identity protection, which his legal team have claimed is required because he is at danger.

He told the investigation that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at persons who were armed.

This assertion was disputed in the final report.

Information from the investigation was unable to be used straightforwardly as testimony in the legal proceedings.

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

He made statements for the opening instance in the proceedings at a session in that month, to respond "not guilty" when the allegations were put to him.

Relatives and supporters of those killed on Bloody Sunday carry a placard and photos of those killed
Family members and allies of the victims on Bloody Sunday carry a banner and photographs of the deceased

Family members of those who were killed on Bloody Sunday travelled from Derry to the courthouse daily of the case.

One relative, whose sibling was fatally wounded, said they always knew that hearing the proceedings would be painful.

"I remember everything in my recollection," the relative said, as we visited the primary sites referenced in the proceedings – from the street, where the victim was shot dead, to the adjacent the area, where the individual and William McKinney were killed.

"It returns me to my position that day.

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

"I went through each detail during the evidence.

"But even with experiencing all that – it's still worthwhile for me."

James Wray (left) and Another victim (right) were included who were killed on the incident
Taylor Mclaughlin
Taylor Mclaughlin

An experienced journalist with a passion for technology and digital culture, based in Prague.