The Way this Prosecution of a Former Soldier Regarding Bloody Sunday Concluded in Acquittal

January 30th, 1972 stands as arguably the most deadly – and momentous – dates during three decades of unrest in the region.

Within the community where it happened – the images of that fateful day are painted on the walls and seared in collective memory.

A civil rights march was conducted on a cold but bright day in Derry.

The demonstration was opposing the system of detention without trial – detaining individuals without legal proceedings – which had been put in place in response to multiple years of conflict.

Troops from the Parachute Regiment shot dead 13 people in the neighborhood – which was, and remains, a predominantly republican area.

A specific visual became notably memorable.

Photographs showed a Catholic priest, the priest, waving a bloodied white handkerchief while attempting to protect a crowd transporting a teenager, the injured teenager, who had been mortally injured.

Journalists documented considerable film on the day.

Documented accounts features Father Daly telling a journalist that military personnel "just seemed to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no justification for the shooting.

The narrative of the incident wasn't accepted by the original examination.

The Widgery Tribunal concluded the Army had been shot at first.

In the resolution efforts, the administration set up a new investigation, following pressure by family members, who said the initial inquiry had been a cover-up.

During 2010, the report by Lord Saville said that overall, the soldiers had fired first and that none of the casualties had presented danger.

The then government leader, David Cameron, issued an apology in the Parliament – saying killings were "without justification and inexcusable."

The police began to look into the incident.

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

Accusations were made concerning the deaths of the first individual, 22, and 26-year-old another victim.

The defendant was further implicated of attempting to murder multiple individuals, additional persons, further individuals, Michael Quinn, and an unidentified individual.

Remains a legal order preserving the veteran's identity protection, which his lawyers have claimed is necessary because he is at risk of attack.

He testified the examination that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at individuals who were carrying weapons.

That claim was rejected in the official findings.

Material from the investigation would not be used immediately as testimony in the legal proceedings.

During the trial, the defendant was shielded from sight with a privacy screen.

He made statements for the first time in the hearing at a session in December 2024, to answer "not guilty" when the accusations were presented.

Relatives of the deceased on the incident made the trip from Derry to the judicial building every day of the trial.

One relative, whose brother Michael was killed, said they understood that listening to the case would be emotional.

"I visualize all details in my mind's eye," he said, as we walked around the key areas referenced in the case – from the location, where the victim was fatally wounded, to the nearby the courtyard, where one victim and another victim were killed.

"It returns me to where I was that day.

"I helped to carry Michael and place him in the vehicle.

"I went through the entire event during the evidence.

"Notwithstanding enduring the process – it's still worthwhile for me."