The Way the Legal Case of a Former Soldier Regarding the 1972 Londonderry Incident Ended in Acquittal

Sunday 30 January 1972 stands as one of the most deadly – and significant – days throughout multiple decades of violence in this area.

In the streets where events unfolded – the images of Bloody Sunday are displayed on the walls and seared in public consciousness.

A civil rights march was conducted on a chilly yet clear period in Londonderry.

The march was a protest against the policy of internment – detaining individuals without due process – which had been put in place in response to multiple years of conflict.

Military personnel from the specialized division fatally wounded multiple civilians in the neighborhood – which was, and still is, a predominantly nationalist community.

A particular photograph became especially iconic.

Images showed a religious figure, the priest, using a blood-stained cloth as he tried to defend a assembly transporting a young man, the fatally wounded individual, who had been killed.

Media personnel captured much footage on the day.

The archive contains the priest informing a media representative that soldiers "gave the impression they would fire in all directions" and he was "completely sure" that there was no provocation for the gunfire.

This account of what happened was disputed by the first inquiry.

The Widgery Tribunal determined the Army had been shot at first.

During the resolution efforts, the ruling party set up a fresh examination, in response to advocacy by bereaved relatives, who said the first investigation had been a inadequate investigation.

During 2010, the conclusion by the investigation said that overall, the military personnel had initiated shooting and that zero among the victims had posed any threat.

The contemporary government leader, the Prime Minister, apologised in the government chamber – stating fatalities were "unjustified and unjustifiable."

The police started to examine the matter.

One former paratrooper, identified as Soldier F, was brought to trial for killing.

Indictments were filed concerning the fatalities of the first individual, twenty-two, and twenty-six-year-old William McKinney.

Soldier F was additionally charged of attempting to murder Patrick O'Donnell, additional persons, more people, another person, and an unnamed civilian.

There is a legal order protecting the soldier's privacy, which his legal team have argued is required because he is at risk of attack.

He stated to the Saville Inquiry that he had solely shot at persons who were possessing firearms.

The statement was dismissed in the official findings.

Material from the examination would not be used straightforwardly as evidence in the legal proceedings.

In the dock, the veteran was shielded from sight using a protective barrier.

He addressed the court for the opening instance in court at a hearing in December 2024, to reply "not guilty" when the accusations were put to him.

Kin of the deceased on the incident made the trip from the city to the judicial building every day of the trial.

A family member, whose sibling was died, said they understood that hearing the proceedings would be emotional.

"I visualize all details in my recollection," he said, as we examined the key areas referenced in the proceedings – from the location, where the victim was fatally wounded, to the adjoining the courtyard, where the individual and another victim were killed.

"It returns me to my location that day.

"I participated in moving Michael and put him in the ambulance.

"I went through each detail during the proceedings.

"But even with enduring the process – it's still valuable for me."