How the Trial of a Former Soldier Over Bloody Sunday Ended in Case Dismissal
January 30th, 1972 remains among the most fatal – and significant – dates during three decades of unrest in the region.
Throughout the area where it happened – the legacy of Bloody Sunday are visible on the structures and etched in public consciousness.
A public gathering was held on a cold but bright period in Londonderry.
The demonstration was opposing the system of detention without trial – detaining individuals without due process – which had been put in place after multiple years of violence.
Troops from the Parachute Regiment fatally wounded multiple civilians in the neighborhood – which was, and remains, a predominantly nationalist area.
A specific visual became especially iconic.
Pictures showed a clergyman, Fr Edward Daly, waving a stained with blood white handkerchief in his effort to defend a assembly moving a teenager, Jackie Duddy, who had been killed.
Journalists documented extensive video on the day.
Historical records contains Fr Daly telling a media representative that military personnel "just seemed to shoot indiscriminately" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no reason for the gunfire.
The narrative of events was rejected by the initial investigation.
The Widgery Tribunal concluded the soldiers had been shot at first.
Throughout the peace process, the ruling party established a new investigation, following pressure by family members, who said the initial inquiry had been a whitewash.
In 2010, the report by the inquiry said that on balance, the soldiers had fired first and that none of the casualties had posed any threat.
The then Prime Minister, the leader, issued an apology in the Parliament – declaring fatalities were "improper and inexcusable."
Law enforcement started to investigate the incident.
A military veteran, referred to as the accused, was brought to trial for murder.
He was charged regarding the killings of James Wray, 22, and twenty-six-year-old the second individual.
The defendant was further implicated of trying to kill several people, additional persons, more people, Michael Quinn, and an unnamed civilian.
There is a judicial decision preserving the soldier's anonymity, which his legal team have claimed is essential because he is at risk of attack.
He told the examination that he had solely shot at persons who were armed.
This assertion was disputed in the final report.
Evidence from the inquiry would not be used immediately as testimony in the legal proceedings.
In the dock, the accused was hidden from public behind a blue curtain.
He spoke for the first time in the proceedings at a proceeding in late 2024, to respond "not guilty" when the allegations were put to him.
Kin of those who were killed on the incident travelled from Derry to Belfast Crown Court daily of the trial.
A family member, whose relative was fatally wounded, said they always knew that hearing the proceedings would be painful.
"I visualize everything in my recollection," he said, as we examined the main locations discussed in the proceedings – from Rossville Street, where Michael was killed, to the nearby Glenfada Park, where one victim and another victim were died.
"It reminds me to where I was that day.
"I participated in moving the victim and lay him in the medical transport.
"I relived every moment during the evidence.
"But even with enduring all that – it's still meaningful for me."
