The Way this Prosecution of a Former Soldier Regarding the 1972 Londonderry Incident Ended in Acquittal
January 30th, 1972 remains one of the most fatal – and consequential – dates during multiple decades of conflict in Northern Ireland.
In the streets where it happened – the images of that fateful day are painted on the buildings and etched in collective memory.
A protest demonstration was held on a chilly yet clear period in Londonderry.
The demonstration was opposing the policy of detention without trial – detaining individuals without legal proceedings – which had been implemented in response to three years of conflict.
Military personnel from the Parachute Regiment killed multiple civilians in the Bogside area – which was, and remains, a strongly nationalist population.
A particular photograph became especially iconic.
Pictures showed a religious figure, Father Daly, waving a stained with blood cloth in his effort to defend a crowd carrying a youth, Jackie Duddy, who had been mortally injured.
Media personnel documented much footage on the day.
Historical records features Father Daly telling a media representative that military personnel "appeared to fire in all directions" and he was "completely sure" that there was no provocation for the gunfire.
The narrative of what happened was rejected by the first inquiry.
The Widgery Tribunal determined the military had been fired upon initially.
During the peace process, the ruling party established a fresh examination, after campaigning by surviving kin, who said the initial inquiry had been a inadequate investigation.
During 2010, the report by the investigation said that on balance, the military personnel had fired first and that not one of the casualties had presented danger.
At that time government leader, David Cameron, issued an apology in the Parliament – declaring deaths were "unjustified and inexcusable."
The police commenced look into the incident.
One former paratrooper, identified as Soldier F, was brought to trial for homicide.
Accusations were made regarding the deaths of the first individual, twenty-two, and twenty-six-year-old the second individual.
The accused was further implicated of trying to kill several people, additional persons, more people, another person, and an unidentified individual.
Exists a court ruling protecting the soldier's identity protection, which his attorneys have maintained is necessary because he is at risk of attack.
He stated to the Saville Inquiry that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at persons who were possessing firearms.
The statement was dismissed in the final report.
Information from the inquiry could not be used directly as proof in the court case.
In the dock, the defendant was screened from view behind a protective barrier.
He addressed the court for the initial occasion in court at a session in that month, to respond "innocent" when the charges were presented.
Family members of the deceased on the incident journeyed from Londonderry to the judicial building each day of the proceedings.
One relative, whose relative was fatally wounded, said they always knew that attending the trial would be emotional.
"I can see everything in my memory," the relative said, as we walked around the primary sites discussed in the proceedings – from the location, where Michael was fatally wounded, to the nearby the area, where one victim and the second person were died.
"It even takes me back to where I was that day.
"I participated in moving Michael and place him in the vehicle.
"I went through each detail during the testimony.
"Notwithstanding experiencing all that – it's still valuable for me."