How the Prosecution of a Former Soldier Regarding Bloody Sunday Ended in Acquittal
January 30th, 1972 is remembered as among the deadliest – and significant – days throughout three decades of unrest in the region.
Within the community where it happened – the legacy of the tragic events are painted on the buildings and embedded in people's minds.
A public gathering was organized on a chilly yet clear day in Londonderry.
The demonstration was a protest against the policy of detention without trial – holding suspects without due process – which had been established following an extended period of conflict.
Troops from the Parachute Regiment killed 13 people in the district – which was, and still is, a strongly republican population.
A particular photograph became particularly memorable.
Photographs showed a clergyman, the priest, waving a blood-stained fabric in his effort to defend a group transporting a youth, the injured teenager, who had been mortally injured.
Media personnel captured much footage on the day.
The archive features Father Daly telling a journalist that troops "appeared to shoot indiscriminately" and he was "completely sure" that there was no justification for the discharge of weapons.
That version of the incident was disputed by the original examination.
The first investigation found the Army had been attacked first.
During the peace process, the administration established a new investigation, after campaigning by family members, who said the first investigation had been a inadequate investigation.
That year, the report by the inquiry said that on balance, the paratroopers had fired first and that none of the victims had posed any threat.
The contemporary Prime Minister, the leader, apologised in the Parliament – declaring killings were "without justification and unjustifiable."
Authorities began to investigate the matter.
An ex-soldier, known as the accused, was prosecuted for murder.
He was charged regarding the fatalities of the first individual, in his twenties, and 26-year-old another victim.
Soldier F was additionally charged of attempting to murder Patrick O'Donnell, other civilians, Joe Mahon, another person, and an unnamed civilian.
There is a judicial decision maintaining the veteran's privacy, which his attorneys have maintained is essential because he is at threat.
He stated to the investigation that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at persons who were possessing firearms.
This assertion was rejected in the official findings.
Evidence from the investigation was unable to be used directly as testimony in the legal proceedings.
During the trial, the accused was shielded from sight with a privacy screen.
He made statements for the first time in the proceedings at a proceeding in that month, to reply "innocent" when the accusations were put to him.
Relatives of the deceased on the incident travelled from Londonderry to Belfast Crown Court each day of the case.
A family member, whose sibling was fatally wounded, said they were aware that hearing the trial would be difficult.
"I remember the events in my recollection," he said, as we visited the key areas discussed in the case – from Rossville Street, where the victim was killed, to the adjacent the courtyard, where James Wray and the second person were killed.
"It returns me to where I was that day.
"I assisted with Michael and put him in the medical transport.
"I experienced again each detail during the proceedings.
"Despite having to go through everything – it's still valuable for me."