How this Legal Case of an Army Veteran Over Bloody Sunday Concluded in Not Guilty Verdict
January 30th, 1972 is remembered as among the most deadly – and significant – dates in multiple decades of conflict in the region.
Throughout the area where it happened – the images of the tragic events are painted on the structures and seared in collective memory.
A civil rights march was held on a cold but bright afternoon in Derry.
The protest was opposing the policy of internment – detaining individuals without trial – which had been implemented after multiple years of violence.
Soldiers from the specialized division fatally wounded multiple civilians in the Bogside area – which was, and continues to be, a strongly Irish nationalist community.
A specific visual became notably prominent.
Photographs showed a religious figure, the priest, waving a bloodied cloth in his effort to shield a group transporting a youth, the injured teenager, who had been fatally wounded.
Journalists documented considerable film on the day.
Documented accounts features the priest telling a reporter that soldiers "gave the impression they would shoot indiscriminately" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no justification for the shooting.
This account of events was disputed by the initial investigation.
The first investigation concluded the Army had been fired upon initially.
In the resolution efforts, the administration commissioned another inquiry, following pressure by bereaved relatives, who said the first investigation had been a whitewash.
During 2010, the report by the inquiry said that generally, the soldiers had initiated shooting and that not one of the victims had presented danger.
The contemporary government leader, David Cameron, apologised in the House of Commons – saying deaths were "improper and inexcusable."
Authorities commenced investigate the matter.
A military veteran, identified as the defendant, was charged for homicide.
Indictments were filed over the deaths of the first individual, twenty-two, and 26-year-old another victim.
The accused was additionally charged of attempting to murder several people, additional persons, more people, Michael Quinn, and an unnamed civilian.
There is a legal order preserving the veteran's identity protection, which his lawyers have argued is required because he is at danger.
He testified the Saville Inquiry that he had only fired at individuals who were armed.
This assertion was rejected in the concluding document.
Information from the inquiry could not be used directly as testimony in the legal proceedings.
During the trial, the veteran was shielded from sight using a blue curtain.
He made statements for the opening instance in court at a session in that month, to respond "innocent" when the accusations were read.
Family members of those who were killed on Bloody Sunday travelled from the city to Belfast Crown Court every day of the case.
One relative, whose sibling was fatally wounded, said they were aware that attending the case would be emotional.
"I visualize all details in my memory," the relative said, as we examined the key areas referenced in the case – from the location, where Michael was killed, to the adjacent Glenfada Park, where one victim and William McKinney were killed.
"It even takes me back to my location that day.
"I helped to carry Michael and place him in the vehicle.
"I experienced again each detail during the evidence.
"But even with having to go through all that – it's still meaningful for me."