How the Trial of an Army Veteran Over Bloody Sunday Concluded in Not Guilty Verdict

January 30th, 1972 is remembered as among the deadliest – and significant – days throughout three decades of conflict in the region.

In the streets of the incident – the legacy of Bloody Sunday are painted on the walls and etched in collective memory.

A public gathering was organized on a cold but bright period in Londonderry.

The demonstration was a protest against the system of internment – detaining individuals without due process – which had been implemented following multiple years of conflict.

Troops from the specialized division killed 13 people in the neighborhood – which was, and still is, a strongly nationalist area.

A specific visual became notably memorable.

Photographs showed a Catholic priest, Fr Edward Daly, using a stained with blood white handkerchief in his effort to shield a crowd transporting a young man, the injured teenager, who had been mortally injured.

Media personnel recorded considerable film on the day.

Documented accounts includes Father Daly telling a reporter that troops "just seemed to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no justification for the gunfire.

The narrative of what happened wasn't accepted by the original examination.

The Widgery Tribunal found the Army had been fired upon initially.

During the resolution efforts, the administration established a fresh examination, in response to advocacy by family members, who said Widgery had been a whitewash.

During 2010, the report by Lord Saville said that overall, the military personnel had discharged weapons initially and that not one of the casualties had presented danger.

The contemporary head of state, the Prime Minister, expressed regret in the government chamber – saying deaths were "unjustified and unacceptable."

Authorities commenced examine the events.

A military veteran, identified as the defendant, was brought to trial for homicide.

Indictments were filed over the killings of James Wray, twenty-two, and 26-year-old another victim.

Soldier F was additionally charged of seeking to harm multiple individuals, Joseph Friel, further individuals, an additional individual, and an unidentified individual.

Remains a court ruling protecting the defendant's privacy, which his legal team have claimed is necessary because he is at danger.

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

The statement was rejected in the final report.

Evidence from the examination would not be used directly as testimony in the legal proceedings.

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

He made statements for the initial occasion in the proceedings at a session in December 2024, to answer "innocent" when the charges were presented.

Kin of those who were killed on Bloody Sunday made the trip from Derry to the courthouse daily of the case.

A family member, whose sibling was died, said they were aware that hearing the trial would be painful.

"I can see everything in my recollection," John said, as we visited the main locations mentioned in the case – from the street, where the victim was shot dead, to the nearby Glenfada Park, where the individual and the second person were fatally wounded.

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

"I participated in moving my brother and place him in the vehicle.

"I experienced again the entire event during the testimony.

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