The Way the Legal Case of an Army Veteran Over Bloody Sunday Ended in Case Dismissal
Sunday 30 January 1972 stands as arguably the most deadly – and consequential – occasions throughout thirty years of conflict in the region.
In the streets where it happened – the images of that fateful day are painted on the buildings and seared in people's minds.
A civil rights march was held on a chilly yet clear period in Londonderry.
The protest was opposing the system of imprisonment without charges – imprisoning people without due process – which had been put in place after three years of unrest.
Soldiers from the Parachute Regiment fatally wounded 13 people in the Bogside area – which was, and continues to be, a predominantly Irish nationalist population.
A particular photograph became notably iconic.
Photographs showed a Catholic priest, Fr Edward Daly, waving a blood-stained white handkerchief as he tried to protect a group moving a young man, the injured teenager, who had been killed.
Journalists documented much footage on the day.
The archive contains the priest informing a media representative that military personnel "gave the impression they would shoot indiscriminately" and he was "completely sure" that there was no justification for the gunfire.
That version of the incident was disputed by the initial investigation.
The Widgery Tribunal determined the soldiers had been attacked first.
In the resolution efforts, the ruling party established a fresh examination, after campaigning by family members, who said the first investigation had been a whitewash.
In 2010, the conclusion by Lord Saville said that on balance, the soldiers had fired first and that zero among the victims had presented danger.
At that time head of state, the leader, expressed regret in the Parliament – saying killings were "without justification and inexcusable."
The police began to investigate the matter.
A military veteran, referred to as the accused, was brought to trial for killing.
Accusations were made concerning the deaths of one victim, in his twenties, and 26-year-old the second individual.
The accused was further implicated of seeking to harm several people, additional persons, Joe Mahon, an additional individual, and an unidentified individual.
There is a judicial decision maintaining the veteran's identity protection, which his attorneys have claimed is essential because he is at risk of attack.
He testified the examination that he had solely shot at individuals who were possessing firearms.
That claim was rejected in the final report.
Information from the investigation would not be used directly as evidence in the criminal process.
In the dock, the defendant was screened from view behind a protective barrier.
He spoke for the first time in the hearing at a hearing in late 2024, to answer "innocent" when the charges were put to him.
Kin of the deceased on the incident travelled from Londonderry to the judicial building every day of the trial.
One relative, whose brother Michael was died, said they were aware that attending the case would be emotional.
"I remember everything in my recollection," John said, as we walked around the main locations mentioned in the proceedings – from Rossville Street, where the victim was fatally wounded, to the adjacent Glenfada Park, where one victim and the second person were killed.
"It reminds me to my location that day.
"I participated in moving Michael and lay him in the vehicle.
"I went through each detail during the evidence.
"Despite enduring all that – it's still meaningful for me."