How the Prosecution of a Former Soldier Regarding Bloody Sunday Concluded in Case Dismissal
January 30th, 1972 remains one of the most fatal – and consequential – days throughout three decades of conflict in the region.
In the streets where events unfolded – the images of the tragic events are painted on the buildings and embedded in people's minds.
A civil rights march was held on a chilly yet clear afternoon in Londonderry.
The protest was challenging the practice of internment – holding suspects without legal proceedings – which had been put in place following multiple years of unrest.
Military personnel from the specialized division shot dead 13 people in the Bogside area – which was, and still is, a strongly nationalist area.
A particular photograph became notably iconic.
Images showed a religious figure, the priest, using a stained with blood cloth as he tried to protect a group transporting a young man, the fatally wounded individual, who had been fatally wounded.
Media personnel captured much footage on the day.
Historical records includes Fr Daly explaining to a journalist that troops "appeared to shoot indiscriminately" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no reason for the discharge of weapons.
The narrative of events was disputed by the original examination.
The initial inquiry concluded the soldiers had been fired upon initially.
During the negotiation period, the ruling party commissioned another inquiry, in response to advocacy by family members, who said Widgery had been a inadequate investigation.
In 2010, the findings by the inquiry said that generally, the military personnel had initiated shooting and that none of the casualties had been armed.
The then government leader, the Prime Minister, issued an apology in the Parliament – declaring fatalities were "unjustified and unjustifiable."
Authorities started to look into the events.
One former paratrooper, known as the accused, was charged for killing.
Indictments were filed regarding the deaths of one victim, twenty-two, and in his mid-twenties another victim.
The accused was also accused of attempting to murder Patrick O'Donnell, additional persons, more people, another person, and an unnamed civilian.
Exists a judicial decision maintaining the veteran's anonymity, which his legal team have maintained is essential because he is at risk of attack.
He told the Saville Inquiry that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at people who were carrying weapons.
This assertion was dismissed in the final report.
Information from the inquiry was unable to be used straightforwardly as proof in the legal proceedings.
In the dock, the veteran was hidden from public using a blue curtain.
He addressed the court for the initial occasion in the hearing at a proceeding in that month, to reply "innocent" when the accusations were presented.
Relatives of those who were killed on Bloody Sunday travelled from Derry to the courthouse each day of the case.
A family member, whose relative was died, said they always knew that hearing the trial would be painful.
"I can see all details in my mind's eye," the relative said, as we visited the primary sites referenced in the trial – from the street, where the victim was fatally wounded, to the nearby the courtyard, where James Wray and William McKinney were fatally wounded.
"It even takes me back to my position that day.
"I participated in moving the victim and lay him in the ambulance.
"I experienced again each detail during the evidence.
"Despite experiencing all that – it's still valuable for me."