The Way this Trial of an Army Veteran Regarding the 1972 Londonderry Incident Concluded in Not Guilty Verdict

Sunday 30 January 1972 remains among the deadliest – and significant – dates throughout multiple decades of conflict in this area.

In the streets where it happened – the memories of the tragic events are visible on the walls and etched in public consciousness.

A protest demonstration was held on a chilly yet clear period in Londonderry.

The protest was challenging the system of detention without trial – holding suspects without legal proceedings – which had been put in place following multiple years of violence.

Military personnel from the Parachute Regiment shot dead multiple civilians in the district – which was, and still is, a strongly republican area.

A particular photograph became particularly prominent.

Images showed a clergyman, Fr Edward Daly, using a bloodied white handkerchief as he tried to defend a group moving a youth, the fatally wounded individual, who had been fatally wounded.

Media personnel captured much footage on the day.

The archive contains Father Daly telling a reporter that military personnel "just seemed to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "completely sure" that there was no justification for the gunfire.

This account of the incident wasn't accepted by the original examination.

The initial inquiry found the military had been fired upon initially.

Throughout the resolution efforts, the ruling party commissioned another inquiry, after campaigning by surviving kin, who said the first investigation had been a cover-up.

In 2010, the findings by the inquiry said that generally, the military personnel had discharged weapons initially and that none of the individuals had presented danger.

The then head of state, David Cameron, apologised in the government chamber – declaring deaths were "unjustified and unjustifiable."

The police started to look into the events.

An ex-soldier, identified as the defendant, was brought to trial for murder.

Indictments were filed regarding the fatalities of James Wray, twenty-two, and in his mid-twenties another victim.

The accused was also accused of trying to kill several people, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon, another person, and an unknown person.

Remains a court ruling protecting the veteran's privacy, which his legal team have argued is required because he is at threat.

He testified the examination that he had only fired at individuals who were armed.

That claim was dismissed in the concluding document.

Information from the examination would not be used immediately as proof in the court case.

During the trial, the veteran was shielded from sight behind a blue curtain.

He spoke for the first time in the hearing at a hearing in late 2024, to reply "not responsible" when the allegations were put to him.

Family members of the victims on the incident travelled from Londonderry to the judicial building daily of the proceedings.

One relative, whose relative was killed, said they were aware that attending the trial would be emotional.

"I remember all details in my memory," he said, as we visited the primary sites discussed in the proceedings – from Rossville Street, where his brother was shot dead, to the nearby the courtyard, where the individual and the second person were died.

"It even takes me back to where I was that day.

"I participated in moving Michael and put him in the medical transport.

"I went through the entire event during the testimony.

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