How the Trial of an Army Veteran Over the 1972 Londonderry Incident Concluded in Not Guilty Verdict
Sunday 30 January 1972 remains among the most deadly – and significant – occasions throughout thirty years of conflict in the region.
Within the community where events unfolded – the images of the tragic events are visible on the buildings and seared in people's minds.
A public gathering was conducted on a wintry, sunny period in Londonderry.
The march was opposing the policy of internment – holding suspects without trial – which had been implemented in response to multiple years of violence.
Military personnel from the Parachute Regiment shot dead 13 people in the neighborhood – which was, and remains, a overwhelmingly republican community.
A specific visual became especially memorable.
Photographs showed a clergyman, Father Daly, using a blood-stained fabric as he tried to shield a group transporting a youth, Jackie Duddy, who had been fatally wounded.
Media personnel captured extensive video on the day.
Documented accounts includes the priest explaining to a reporter that soldiers "appeared to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "completely sure" that there was no reason for the shooting.
That version of events was disputed by the first inquiry.
The Widgery Tribunal determined the soldiers had been fired upon initially.
Throughout the peace process, the ruling party established a new investigation, in response to advocacy by family members, who said the first investigation had been a whitewash.
That year, the conclusion by the inquiry said that generally, the paratroopers had fired first and that not one of the casualties had been armed.
The then government leader, David Cameron, issued an apology in the government chamber – stating killings were "without justification and unjustifiable."
Law enforcement commenced examine the events.
A military veteran, identified as Soldier F, was prosecuted for homicide.
He was charged regarding the fatalities of one victim, 22, and in his mid-twenties another victim.
Soldier F was further implicated of trying to kill several people, additional persons, further individuals, Michael Quinn, and an unidentified individual.
Exists a court ruling maintaining the veteran's privacy, which his legal team have maintained is essential because he is at threat.
He stated to the Saville Inquiry that he had solely shot at persons who were carrying weapons.
The statement was disputed in the official findings.
Material from the investigation could not be used directly as testimony in the criminal process.
In the dock, the accused was hidden from public with a privacy screen.
He made statements for the first time in the hearing at a session in late 2024, to respond "not responsible" when the allegations were read.
Relatives of the deceased on that day travelled from Derry to the judicial building each day of the proceedings.
A family member, whose brother Michael was killed, said they always knew that attending the case would be painful.
"I can see all details in my memory," John said, as we examined the key areas discussed in the case – from the location, where the victim was shot dead, to the adjoining the courtyard, where one victim and the second person were died.
"It reminds me to where I was that day.
"I assisted with Michael and lay him in the medical transport.
"I relived each detail during the evidence.
"But even with experiencing all that – it's still meaningful for me."