How the Trial of a Former Soldier Over the 1972 Londonderry Incident Ended in Acquittal
January 30th, 1972 stands as one of the most deadly – and momentous – dates throughout three decades of conflict in the region.
Throughout the area where it happened – the images of the tragic events are painted on the walls and etched in people's minds.
A public gathering was held on a chilly yet clear day in Londonderry.
The protest was opposing the practice of imprisonment without charges – detaining individuals without legal proceedings – which had been implemented after multiple years of conflict.
Troops from the elite army unit fatally wounded multiple civilians in the district – which was, and continues to be, a predominantly Irish nationalist area.
A specific visual became particularly memorable.
Photographs showed a clergyman, the priest, displaying a bloodied white handkerchief as he tried to protect a crowd carrying a young man, the fatally wounded individual, who had been fatally wounded.
Media personnel captured considerable film on the day.
Documented accounts includes Father Daly telling a media representative that troops "just seemed to fire in all directions" and he was "completely sure" that there was no justification for the discharge of weapons.
The narrative of the incident was rejected by the first inquiry.
The Widgery Tribunal found the Army had been shot at first.
During the negotiation period, Tony Blair's government commissioned a new investigation, following pressure by surviving kin, who said the initial inquiry had been a whitewash.
During 2010, the conclusion by the inquiry said that generally, the paratroopers had fired first and that none of the victims had posed any threat.
The contemporary Prime Minister, David Cameron, apologised in the Parliament – saying killings were "without justification and inexcusable."
The police began to investigate the events.
A military veteran, identified as the defendant, was brought to trial for homicide.
He was charged over the fatalities of James Wray, twenty-two, and in his mid-twenties William McKinney.
Soldier F was further implicated of attempting to murder Patrick O'Donnell, additional persons, more people, Michael Quinn, and an unknown person.
Remains a court ruling maintaining the soldier's anonymity, which his lawyers have claimed is essential because he is at danger.
He stated to the investigation that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at persons who were carrying weapons.
This assertion was rejected in the concluding document.
Information from the examination would not be used directly as proof in the court case.
During the trial, the veteran was hidden from public using a privacy screen.
He spoke for the initial occasion in court at a proceeding in December 2024, to answer "innocent" when the allegations were put to him.
Family members of the victims on that day travelled from Londonderry to the courthouse every day of the proceedings.
John Kelly, whose brother Michael was killed, said they always knew that hearing the case would be emotional.
"I can see everything in my recollection," the relative said, as we visited the primary sites discussed in the trial – from the street, where his brother was shot dead, to the nearby the area, where James Wray and William McKinney were fatally wounded.
"It reminds me to my location that day.
"I participated in moving the victim and put him in the ambulance.
"I relived each detail during the testimony.
"Notwithstanding enduring the process – it's still worthwhile for me."
