The Way the Prosecution of a Former Soldier Over the 1972 Londonderry Incident Ended in Acquittal

Sunday 30 January 1972 stands as one of the most deadly – and momentous – dates in three decades of conflict in the region.

Throughout the area where events unfolded – the images of the tragic events are displayed on the structures and etched in public consciousness.

A civil rights march was held on a cold but bright period in Londonderry.

The demonstration was challenging the practice of internment – detaining individuals without legal proceedings – which had been implemented after multiple years of conflict.

Soldiers from the specialized division fatally wounded thirteen individuals in the neighborhood – which was, and continues to be, a strongly nationalist population.

One image became notably prominent.

Photographs showed a clergyman, the priest, using a stained with blood white handkerchief in his effort to shield a crowd moving a teenager, Jackie Duddy, who had been fatally wounded.

Media personnel documented extensive video on the day.

The archive contains Father Daly telling a reporter that soldiers "appeared to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "completely sure" that there was no justification for the discharge of weapons.

That version of the incident was rejected by the initial investigation.

The first investigation found the Army had been fired upon initially.

During the peace process, Tony Blair's government established a new investigation, following pressure by bereaved relatives, who said the first investigation had been a whitewash.

That year, the findings by Lord Saville said that generally, the soldiers had initiated shooting and that not one of the victims had presented danger.

The contemporary Prime Minister, the leader, expressed regret in the House of Commons – saying fatalities were "improper and inexcusable."

Law enforcement began to examine the incident.

One former paratrooper, known as the defendant, was prosecuted for murder.

He was charged over the deaths of James Wray, twenty-two, and 26-year-old another victim.

The defendant was additionally charged of attempting to murder several people, additional persons, more people, an additional individual, and an unknown person.

There is a court ruling preserving the veteran's anonymity, which his legal team have maintained is necessary because he is at danger.

He testified the examination that he had solely shot at people who were carrying weapons.

That claim was rejected in the final report.

Evidence from the investigation was unable to be used straightforwardly as proof in the criminal process.

During the trial, the defendant was screened from view using a privacy screen.

He made statements for the first time in the hearing at a hearing in that month, to answer "innocent" when the charges were put to him.

Family members of the victims on that day made the trip from Londonderry to the courthouse every day of the proceedings.

A family member, whose sibling was killed, said they understood that attending the trial would be difficult.

"I visualize all details in my memory," John said, as we examined the key areas discussed in the trial – from Rossville Street, where the victim was killed, to the nearby the courtyard, where the individual and William McKinney were died.

"It even takes me back to where I was that day.

"I helped to carry my brother and lay him in the medical transport.

"I relived the entire event during the evidence.

"Notwithstanding having to go through all that – it's still valuable for me."