How this Legal Case of a Former Soldier Over Bloody Sunday Ended in Acquittal
January 30th, 1972 remains among the most fatal – and significant – days throughout multiple decades of conflict in Northern Ireland.
Within the community of the incident – the memories of that fateful day are painted on the walls and seared in collective memory.
A civil rights march was held on a chilly yet clear period in Londonderry.
The protest was opposing the practice of detention without trial – holding suspects without trial – which had been put in place after three years of unrest.
Military personnel from the elite army unit fatally wounded multiple civilians in the neighborhood – which was, and continues to be, a predominantly nationalist community.
One image became especially memorable.
Pictures showed a religious figure, Fr Edward Daly, using a bloodied cloth while attempting to defend a group moving a youth, Jackie Duddy, who had been fatally wounded.
Journalists recorded extensive video on the day.
The archive includes Fr Daly telling a journalist that soldiers "appeared to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "completely sure" that there was no justification for the discharge of weapons.
The narrative of events was rejected by the initial investigation.
The first investigation determined the soldiers had been fired upon initially.
During the resolution efforts, the administration established a new investigation, following pressure by family members, who said Widgery had been a whitewash.
In 2010, the findings by Lord Saville said that overall, the military personnel had discharged weapons initially and that zero among the casualties had posed any threat.
The then Prime Minister, David Cameron, issued an apology in the Parliament – saying killings were "improper and unacceptable."
Law enforcement began to examine the events.
A military veteran, known as the defendant, was brought to trial for killing.
He was charged over the fatalities of James Wray, 22, and 26-year-old William McKinney.
The defendant was also accused of attempting to murder multiple individuals, Joseph Friel, more people, Michael Quinn, and an unknown person.
There is a court ruling preserving the defendant's privacy, which his lawyers have claimed is required because he is at threat.
He stated to the investigation that he had only fired at people who were possessing firearms.
The statement was dismissed in the official findings.
Evidence from the inquiry could not be used straightforwardly as evidence in the criminal process.
In the dock, the accused was screened from view with a privacy screen.
He addressed the court for the initial occasion in court at a session in that month, to reply "not responsible" when the charges were presented.
Family members of the deceased on the incident travelled from the city to the judicial building every day of the proceedings.
One relative, whose brother Michael was fatally wounded, said they were aware that hearing the proceedings would be difficult.
"I remember everything in my mind's eye," the relative said, as we examined the primary sites mentioned in the trial – from the location, where his brother was killed, to the adjacent the area, where the individual and another victim were killed.
"It even takes me back to where I was that day.
"I assisted with my brother and lay him in the ambulance.
"I experienced again every moment during the evidence.
"But even with enduring everything – it's still worthwhile for me."