The Way this Prosecution of a Former Soldier Over the 1972 Londonderry Incident Ended in Not Guilty Verdict
Sunday 30 January 1972 remains one of the deadliest – and consequential – occasions during thirty years of conflict in the region.
In the streets of the incident – the memories of that fateful day are visible on the buildings and etched in people's minds.
A protest demonstration was held on a chilly yet clear period in Londonderry.
The demonstration was challenging the system of internment – imprisoning people without trial – which had been established in response to three years of conflict.
Troops from the elite army unit fatally wounded multiple civilians in the district – which was, and remains, a strongly nationalist area.
One image became particularly prominent.
Photographs showed a religious figure, Father Daly, using a bloodied fabric in his effort to defend a group carrying a teenager, Jackie Duddy, who had been mortally injured.
News camera operators captured much footage on the day.
Documented accounts includes Father Daly explaining to a journalist that soldiers "just seemed to shoot indiscriminately" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no reason for the discharge of weapons.
This account of the incident was disputed by the original examination.
The first investigation found the Army had been shot at first.
In the negotiation period, the administration set up another inquiry, after campaigning by family members, who said Widgery had been a inadequate investigation.
In 2010, the findings by the investigation said that overall, the military personnel had fired first and that zero among the victims had presented danger.
The then Prime Minister, the leader, issued an apology in the Parliament – saying deaths were "unjustified and unacceptable."
Authorities started to examine the events.
A military veteran, known as Soldier F, was prosecuted for murder.
Indictments were filed over the deaths of James Wray, twenty-two, and in his mid-twenties another victim.
Soldier F was also accused of seeking to harm several people, Joseph Friel, more people, Michael Quinn, and an unidentified individual.
Exists a legal order preserving the soldier's anonymity, which his legal team have argued is required because he is at threat.
He testified the investigation that he had solely shot at individuals who were carrying weapons.
This assertion was disputed in the concluding document.
Information from the investigation would not be used immediately as testimony in the criminal process.
In court, the accused was hidden from public using a privacy screen.
He addressed the court for the opening instance in court at a hearing in late 2024, to respond "innocent" when the charges were read.
Relatives of the deceased on that day made the trip from Derry to the courthouse daily of the case.
John Kelly, whose relative was died, said they always knew that attending the proceedings would be painful.
"I remember the events in my recollection," John said, as we visited the key areas mentioned in the trial – from the location, where the victim was fatally wounded, to the adjoining the courtyard, where James Wray and the second person were killed.
"It reminds me to where I was that day.
"I participated in moving the victim and put him in the medical transport.
"I relived the entire event during the evidence.
"Despite experiencing everything – it's still meaningful for me."