The Way this Trial of an Army Veteran Regarding the 1972 Londonderry Incident Concluded in Acquittal
January 30th, 1972 stands as one of the most deadly – and significant – dates during multiple decades of conflict in the region.
In the streets where events unfolded – the images of that fateful day are displayed on the walls and etched in people's minds.
A civil rights march was conducted on a cold but bright day in the city.
The demonstration was a protest against the policy of internment – holding suspects without due process – which had been implemented in response to an extended period of conflict.
Troops from the specialized division killed thirteen individuals in the district – which was, and continues to be, a strongly nationalist area.
A specific visual became especially memorable.
Pictures showed a religious figure, the priest, using a stained with blood cloth as he tried to protect a assembly transporting a youth, the fatally wounded individual, who had been mortally injured.
Journalists captured extensive video on the day.
The archive contains Fr Daly informing a media representative that troops "just seemed to fire in all directions" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no reason for the discharge of weapons.
This account of events wasn't accepted by the original examination.
The first investigation found the Army had been shot at first.
Throughout the peace process, the ruling party established another inquiry, after campaigning by bereaved relatives, who said the first investigation had been a whitewash.
That year, the conclusion by the investigation said that on balance, the soldiers had fired first and that not one of the casualties had posed any threat.
The contemporary Prime Minister, the leader, issued an apology in the government chamber – stating killings were "improper and unjustifiable."
Authorities started to investigate the matter.
An ex-soldier, known as the defendant, was brought to trial for murder.
He was charged over the deaths of the first individual, 22, and 26-year-old another victim.
Soldier F was additionally charged of attempting to murder multiple individuals, additional persons, Joe Mahon, an additional individual, and an unknown person.
There is a legal order protecting the veteran's anonymity, which his legal team have argued is essential because he is at threat.
He told the Saville Inquiry that he had only fired at individuals who were armed.
This assertion was disputed in the final report.
Material from the investigation would not be used directly as proof in the criminal process.
In the dock, the defendant was screened from view behind a blue curtain.
He spoke for the initial occasion in the proceedings at a proceeding in late 2024, to answer "not responsible" when the allegations were presented.
Relatives of the victims on that day made the trip from Derry to Belfast Crown Court every day of the case.
John Kelly, whose brother Michael was died, said they always knew that hearing the case would be difficult.
"I visualize everything in my memory," the relative said, as we examined the main locations mentioned in the case – from Rossville Street, where Michael was killed, to the nearby the courtyard, where one victim and William McKinney were died.
"It even takes me back to my position that day.
"I helped to carry the victim and lay him in the ambulance.
"I relived each detail during the testimony.
"But even with having to go through all that – it's still valuable for me."