The Way this Legal Case of a Former Soldier Regarding the 1972 Londonderry Incident Ended in Acquittal

January 30th, 1972 is remembered as arguably the deadliest – and momentous – dates throughout three decades of conflict in this area.

In the streets of the incident – the images of the tragic events are visible on the buildings and seared in people's minds.

A protest demonstration was conducted on a chilly yet clear day in Londonderry.

The march was a protest against the system of detention without trial – detaining individuals without trial – which had been established in response to three years of unrest.

Military personnel from the Parachute Regiment fatally wounded 13 people in the district – which was, and still is, a strongly Irish nationalist population.

A specific visual became especially prominent.

Photographs showed a Catholic priest, Fr Edward Daly, displaying a bloodied white handkerchief as he tried to protect a crowd carrying a teenager, the fatally wounded individual, who had been killed.

Journalists documented considerable film on the day.

The archive includes Fr Daly explaining to a reporter that soldiers "just seemed to shoot indiscriminately" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no justification for the discharge of weapons.

This account of events wasn't accepted by the first inquiry.

The first investigation determined the military had been attacked first.

During the resolution efforts, the ruling party established a new investigation, following pressure by family members, who said Widgery had been a inadequate investigation.

In 2010, the report by the investigation said that overall, the paratroopers had discharged weapons initially and that not one of the individuals had been armed.

The contemporary Prime Minister, David Cameron, expressed regret in the Parliament – declaring killings were "without justification and inexcusable."

Authorities started to investigate the events.

One former paratrooper, known as the accused, was charged for homicide.

Indictments were filed over the killings of one victim, 22, and in his mid-twenties the second individual.

The defendant was further implicated of attempting to murder Patrick O'Donnell, Joseph Friel, further individuals, another person, and an unidentified individual.

Remains a legal order protecting the veteran's identity protection, which his legal team have maintained is necessary because he is at risk of attack.

He told the Saville Inquiry that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at people who were carrying weapons.

That claim was rejected in the concluding document.

Evidence from the inquiry would not be used straightforwardly as testimony in the court case.

In the dock, the defendant was hidden from public with a protective barrier.

He spoke for the initial occasion in the proceedings at a session in late 2024, to respond "not responsible" when the charges were presented.

Kin of those who were killed on that day journeyed from the city to Belfast Crown Court daily of the proceedings.

A family member, whose sibling was fatally wounded, said they understood that listening to the proceedings would be painful.

"I visualize all details in my memory," he said, as we walked around the key areas discussed in the case – from Rossville Street, where Michael was fatally wounded, to the adjoining Glenfada Park, where James Wray and the second person were killed.

"It even takes me back to where I was that day.

"I helped to carry Michael and lay him in the ambulance.

"I relived every moment during the evidence.

"But even with having to go through all that – it's still valuable for me."