The Way this Legal Case of an Army Veteran Over Bloody Sunday Concluded in Case Dismissal

January 30th, 1972 stands as arguably the most deadly – and momentous – dates throughout multiple decades of conflict in this area.

Within the community where events unfolded – the memories of Bloody Sunday are painted on the structures and seared in public consciousness.

A public gathering was organized on a wintry, sunny period in Londonderry.

The demonstration was a protest against the system of imprisonment without charges – detaining individuals without legal proceedings – which had been implemented after an extended period of unrest.

Military personnel from the Parachute Regiment fatally wounded thirteen individuals in the district – which was, and continues to be, a strongly nationalist population.

One image became notably iconic.

Images showed a clergyman, Father Daly, waving a blood-stained cloth while attempting to shield a crowd carrying a youth, the injured teenager, who had been mortally injured.

News camera operators recorded considerable film on the day.

Documented accounts features the priest informing a reporter that soldiers "gave the impression they would discharge weapons randomly" and he was "completely sure" that there was no justification for the shooting.

The narrative of events was rejected by the first inquiry.

The first investigation determined the soldiers had been shot at first.

In the resolution efforts, the administration set up a fresh examination, in response to advocacy by bereaved relatives, who said Widgery had been a whitewash.

In 2010, the findings by the investigation said that on balance, the soldiers had discharged weapons initially and that none of the casualties had posed any threat.

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

The police began to examine the matter.

An ex-soldier, known as Soldier F, was brought to trial for killing.

Accusations were made concerning the killings of one victim, in his twenties, and twenty-six-year-old another victim.

The defendant was additionally charged of trying to kill Patrick O'Donnell, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon, another person, and an unidentified individual.

Exists a judicial decision protecting the soldier's identity protection, which his legal team have claimed is essential because he is at danger.

He told the Saville Inquiry that he had solely shot at persons who were carrying weapons.

That claim was disputed in the official findings.

Material from the examination could not be used directly as evidence in the criminal process.

In the dock, the defendant was shielded from sight behind a protective barrier.

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

Relatives of the deceased on Bloody Sunday travelled from Derry to Belfast Crown Court every day of the trial.

One relative, whose brother Michael was fatally wounded, said they understood that listening to the case would be painful.

"I remember everything in my memory," John said, as we walked around the primary sites discussed in the proceedings – from Rossville Street, where his brother was killed, to the adjacent the courtyard, where one victim and the second person were fatally wounded.

"It returns me to my position that day.

"I participated in moving my brother and put him in the ambulance.

"I went through every moment during the evidence.

"Notwithstanding experiencing all that – it's still worthwhile for me."