How this Legal Case of an Army Veteran Over Bloody Sunday Ended in Case Dismissal

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

Sunday 30 January 1972 remains among the most fatal – and consequential – occasions throughout multiple decades of unrest in this area.

In the streets of the incident – the legacy of that fateful day are visible on the structures and embedded in public consciousness.

A protest demonstration was conducted on a chilly yet clear period in Londonderry.

The demonstration was a protest against the system of imprisonment without charges – imprisoning people without legal proceedings – which had been implemented in response to multiple years of violence.

A Catholic priest displayed a blood-stained handkerchief as he tried to protect a assembly transporting a teenager, the fatally wounded youth
Fr Edward Daly waved a white cloth stained with blood in an effort to protect a assembly transporting a youth, the fatally wounded youth

Military personnel from the Parachute Regiment shot dead 13 people in the district – which was, and continues to be, a overwhelmingly Irish nationalist community.

One image became particularly iconic.

Photographs showed a clergyman, Fr Edward Daly, displaying a stained with blood fabric in his effort to defend a crowd carrying a youth, the injured teenager, who had been mortally injured.

News camera operators documented extensive video on the day.

The archive contains Father Daly explaining to a reporter that troops "appeared to fire in all directions" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no provocation for the gunfire.

Protesters in the neighborhood being directed to custody by military personnel on Bloody Sunday
Civilians in the district being marched towards detention by military personnel on Bloody Sunday

That version of events was rejected by the first inquiry.

The initial inquiry determined the soldiers had been attacked first.

Throughout the peace process, the administration established another inquiry, following pressure by bereaved relatives, who said the first investigation had been a cover-up.

In 2010, the report by Lord Saville said that overall, the military personnel had fired first and that zero among the victims had been armed.

The contemporary Prime Minister, David Cameron, expressed regret in the Parliament – declaring killings were "improper and unjustifiable."

Kin of the casualties of the 1972 incident shootings walk from the neighborhood of the city to the Guildhall carrying photographs of their relatives
Families of the victims of the Bloody Sunday killings walk from the Bogside area of Londonderry to the Guildhall displaying photographs of their relatives

Authorities began to look into the events.

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

Indictments were filed over the killings of the first individual, 22, and twenty-six-year-old William McKinney.

The defendant was additionally charged of trying to kill Patrick O'Donnell, other civilians, more people, Michael Quinn, and an unnamed civilian.

There is a judicial decision maintaining the soldier's anonymity, which his attorneys have maintained is essential because he is at threat.

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

That claim was disputed in the final report.

Information from the inquiry was unable to be used immediately as proof in the legal proceedings.

During the trial, the defendant was screened from view with a protective barrier.

He made statements for the first time in court at a hearing in late 2024, to reply "innocent" when the allegations were read.

Relatives and advocates of the deceased on that day hold a placard and photos of the victims
Relatives and supporters of the deceased on Bloody Sunday display a banner and photographs of the deceased

Kin of those who were killed on that day journeyed from the city to the courthouse daily of the trial.

A family member, whose brother Michael was died, said they always knew that listening to the case would be emotional.

"I can see all details in my recollection," the relative said, as we examined the main locations mentioned in the proceedings – from the street, where Michael was shot dead, to the adjoining the area, where the individual and another victim were fatally wounded.

"It reminds me to where I was that day.

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

"I experienced again every moment during the testimony.

"Notwithstanding 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
Christopher Phillips
Christopher Phillips

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