The Way this Trial of an Army Veteran Regarding Bloody Sunday Ended in Not Guilty Verdict

January 30th, 1972 remains arguably the deadliest – and momentous – occasions in multiple decades of conflict in Northern Ireland.

In the streets of the incident – the memories of that fateful day are displayed on the structures and embedded in people's minds.

A protest demonstration was conducted on a cold but bright day in Derry.

The demonstration was opposing the policy of internment – holding suspects without due process – which had been put in place in response to multiple years of violence.

Military personnel from the Parachute Regiment fatally wounded 13 people in the district – which was, and remains, a strongly nationalist community.

One image became especially prominent.

Photographs showed a clergyman, Fr Edward Daly, waving a blood-stained cloth in his effort to defend a crowd transporting a youth, the injured teenager, who had been killed.

Journalists captured extensive video on the day.

Historical records contains Fr Daly explaining to a media representative that military personnel "appeared to shoot indiscriminately" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no reason for the gunfire.

The narrative of what happened was rejected by the first inquiry.

The initial inquiry concluded the military had been attacked first.

In the resolution efforts, Tony Blair's government set up another inquiry, after campaigning by family members, who said the first investigation had been a cover-up.

In 2010, the findings by the investigation said that on balance, the military personnel had fired first and that zero among the individuals had been armed.

At that time Prime Minister, the leader, issued an apology in the government chamber – stating deaths were "unjustified and inexcusable."

Law enforcement began to examine the incident.

One former paratrooper, identified as the defendant, was brought to trial for killing.

He was charged concerning the killings of James Wray, 22, and twenty-six-year-old the second individual.

Soldier F was further implicated of trying to kill Patrick O'Donnell, Joseph Friel, more people, another person, and an unnamed civilian.

Exists a judicial decision maintaining the soldier's anonymity, which his legal team have argued is essential because he is at risk of attack.

He testified the examination that he had only fired at individuals who were possessing firearms.

This assertion was rejected in the official findings.

Evidence from the inquiry could not be used straightforwardly as testimony in the criminal process.

During the trial, the defendant was hidden from public behind a blue curtain.

He made statements for the first time in the proceedings at a session in December 2024, to reply "not guilty" when the allegations were put to him.

Relatives of the deceased on the incident travelled from Derry to the judicial building every day of the proceedings.

John Kelly, whose brother Michael was died, said they always knew that attending the case would be difficult.

"I visualize all details in my mind's eye," he said, as we examined the key areas mentioned in the proceedings – from the location, where his brother was shot dead, to the adjacent the courtyard, where the individual and William McKinney were killed.

"It even takes me back to my position that day.

"I assisted with my brother and lay him in the medical transport.

"I went through each detail during the evidence.

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