How the Trial of a Former Soldier Regarding Bloody Sunday Ended in Case Dismissal

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

January 30th, 1972 is remembered as one of the deadliest – and significant – occasions in three decades of conflict in the region.

Within the community where events unfolded – the legacy of the tragic events are visible on the buildings and embedded in people's minds.

A public gathering was conducted on a wintry, sunny day in Derry.

The march was challenging the policy of detention without trial – imprisoning people without due process – which had been put in place after three years of conflict.

Father Daly displayed a bloodied fabric as he tried to shield a assembly transporting a teenager, the injured teenager
Father Daly waved a white cloth stained with blood as he tried to shield a crowd carrying a young man, Jackie Duddy

Military personnel from the specialized division killed 13 people in the Bogside area – which was, and continues to be, a predominantly nationalist population.

One image became notably memorable.

Images showed a Catholic priest, the priest, displaying a bloodied white handkerchief in his effort to defend a assembly moving a young man, Jackie Duddy, who had been mortally injured.

Media personnel captured extensive video on the day.

Historical records contains Father Daly informing a media representative that military personnel "appeared to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no reason for the shooting.

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

The narrative of events was disputed by the original examination.

The initial inquiry found the Army had been attacked first.

In the resolution efforts, the ruling party commissioned a fresh examination, after campaigning by surviving kin, who said the initial inquiry had been a whitewash.

That year, the findings by the investigation said that generally, the soldiers had initiated shooting and that not one of the individuals had posed any threat.

The then Prime Minister, the Prime Minister, apologised in the House of Commons – declaring deaths were "unjustified and unacceptable."

Relatives of the casualties of the tragic event killings walk from the district of Derry to the Guildhall carrying images of their family members
Kin of the victims of the tragic event killings march from the neighborhood of Derry to the municipal center carrying photographs of their loved ones

Authorities started to examine the incident.

A military veteran, known as the defendant, was prosecuted for homicide.

Accusations were made over the fatalities of James Wray, 22, and 26-year-old the second individual.

The defendant was additionally charged of trying to kill multiple individuals, other civilians, more people, another person, and an unnamed civilian.

Remains a judicial decision maintaining the veteran's privacy, which his legal team have maintained is necessary because he is at danger.

He stated to the examination that he had only fired at persons who were armed.

The statement was dismissed in the final report.

Information from the examination was unable to be used directly as testimony in the court case.

In court, the defendant was shielded from sight using a privacy screen.

He addressed the court for the initial occasion in court at a proceeding in December 2024, to answer "innocent" when the accusations were presented.

Kin and supporters of the deceased on Bloody Sunday carry a sign and photographs of those killed
Family members and allies of those killed on that day carry a placard and photographs of those killed

Family members of the victims on the incident made the trip from the city to the courthouse daily of the proceedings.

One relative, whose sibling was died, said they were aware that attending the case would be difficult.

"I remember all details in my mind's eye," the relative said, as we walked around the main locations discussed in the proceedings – from Rossville Street, where Michael was shot dead, to the adjacent Glenfada Park, where James Wray and the second person were killed.

"It reminds me to my location that day.

"I participated in moving Michael and put him in the medical transport.

"I relived every moment during the evidence.

"Notwithstanding enduring all that – it's still valuable for me."

James Wray (left) and William McKinney (right) were among those who were fatally wounded on Bloody Sunday
Allison Houston
Allison Houston

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