The Way the Prosecution of an Army Veteran Over Bloody Sunday Ended in Acquittal

Protesters in a confrontation with military personnel on Bloody Sunday
Youths in a stand-off with British soldiers on Bloody Sunday

Sunday 30 January 1972 is remembered as one of the most fatal – and consequential – occasions during three decades of violence in this area.

In the streets of the incident – the images of the tragic events are displayed on the structures and seared in public consciousness.

A civil rights march was conducted on a chilly yet clear afternoon in the city.

The demonstration was challenging the policy of imprisonment without charges – holding suspects without due process – which had been put in place after an extended period of violence.

Father Daly displayed a white cloth stained with blood in an effort to protect a crowd carrying a youth, the fatally wounded youth
Fr Edward Daly waved a blood-stained handkerchief while attempting to shield a group carrying a young man, Jackie Duddy

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

A particular photograph became especially prominent.

Images showed a Catholic priest, Fr Edward Daly, displaying a bloodied cloth in his effort to defend a assembly transporting a teenager, the fatally wounded individual, who had been mortally injured.

News camera operators recorded extensive video on the day.

The archive features Fr Daly informing a journalist that soldiers "just seemed to fire in all directions" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no justification for the discharge of weapons.

Individuals in the Bogside area being marched towards detention by soldiers on Bloody Sunday
Protesters in the Bogside area being taken to arrest by military personnel on Bloody Sunday

The narrative of the incident was disputed by the initial investigation.

The initial inquiry determined the military had been attacked first.

Throughout the peace process, the administration commissioned a fresh examination, following pressure by family members, who said Widgery had been a cover-up.

In 2010, the findings by the investigation said that generally, the paratroopers had discharged weapons initially and that zero among the victims had been armed.

The contemporary head of state, the leader, expressed regret in the House of Commons – declaring deaths were "unjustified and unjustifiable."

Kin of the victims of the 1972 incident killings process from the Bogside area of Derry to the civic building displaying pictures of their family members
Kin of the victims of the tragic event fatalities walk from the neighborhood of Londonderry to the Guildhall carrying images of their relatives

Authorities began to look into the incident.

A military veteran, identified as the accused, was brought to trial for homicide.

Indictments were filed concerning the fatalities of James Wray, twenty-two, and in his mid-twenties the second individual.

The defendant was further implicated of attempting to murder several people, other civilians, further individuals, another person, and an unknown person.

There is a judicial decision protecting the soldier's privacy, which his attorneys have argued is essential because he is at risk of attack.

He testified the Saville Inquiry that he had only fired at persons who were armed.

This assertion was rejected in the concluding document.

Information from the inquiry was unable to be used directly as proof in the court case.

In the dock, the defendant was shielded from sight behind a privacy screen.

He made statements for the initial occasion in court at a hearing in late 2024, to respond "not responsible" when the charges were read.

Kin and supporters of the deceased on that day carry a banner and images of the deceased
Kin and allies of the victims on the incident display a placard and photographs of the deceased

Relatives of those who were killed on Bloody Sunday journeyed from Londonderry to Belfast Crown Court every day of the trial.

John Kelly, whose relative was killed, said they understood that listening to the proceedings would be difficult.

"I remember everything in my mind's eye," he said, as we walked around the key areas discussed in the case – from the street, where the victim was killed, to the adjoining the area, where the individual and the second person were killed.

"It returns me to my location that day.

"I participated in moving my brother and place him in the vehicle.

"I went through the entire event during the testimony.

"Despite having to go through the process – it's still valuable for me."

James Wray (left) and William McKinney (right) were among those who were fatally wounded on the incident
Connie West
Connie West

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