How the Trial of a Former Soldier Regarding the 1972 Londonderry Incident Ended in Not Guilty Verdict

Sunday 30 January 1972 is remembered as arguably the deadliest – and consequential – occasions during three decades of unrest in Northern Ireland.

Throughout the area where it happened – the memories of that fateful day are displayed on the walls and embedded in collective memory.

A protest demonstration was conducted on a cold but bright day in Derry.

The protest was challenging the practice of internment – holding suspects without due process – which had been put in place after an extended period of conflict.

Military personnel from the Parachute Regiment fatally wounded multiple civilians in the district – which was, and still is, a overwhelmingly Irish nationalist area.

One image became especially iconic.

Images showed a clergyman, the priest, displaying a stained with blood cloth in his effort to protect a group transporting a young man, Jackie Duddy, who had been mortally injured.

Journalists documented extensive video on the day.

The archive contains the priest informing a media representative that troops "gave the impression they would discharge weapons randomly" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no justification for the shooting.

This account of events wasn't accepted by the first inquiry.

The Widgery Tribunal found the Army had been fired upon initially.

During the negotiation period, the administration set up a fresh examination, following pressure by bereaved relatives, who said the first investigation had been a whitewash.

In 2010, the report by the investigation said that on balance, the soldiers had initiated shooting and that none of the casualties had been armed.

At that time government leader, the leader, issued an apology in the Parliament – stating killings were "unjustified and inexcusable."

Law enforcement commenced look into the events.

A military veteran, known as Soldier F, was charged for homicide.

Accusations were made over the deaths of James Wray, twenty-two, and twenty-six-year-old another victim.

The accused was also accused of attempting to murder several people, additional persons, more people, an additional individual, and an unnamed civilian.

There is a legal order preserving the defendant's anonymity, which his legal team have maintained is necessary because he is at threat.

He stated to the investigation that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at individuals who were armed.

That claim was rejected in the final report.

Information from the investigation was unable to be used directly as testimony in the legal proceedings.

In the dock, the defendant was hidden from public behind a blue curtain.

He addressed the court for the initial occasion in the hearing at a proceeding in December 2024, to respond "not responsible" when the accusations were presented.

Relatives of the victims on the incident made the trip from the city to the courthouse each day of the case.

One relative, whose brother Michael was died, said they were aware that listening to the trial would be emotional.

"I visualize all details in my recollection," he said, as we walked around the main locations discussed in the proceedings – from Rossville Street, where the victim was fatally wounded, to the adjoining the area, where James Wray and William McKinney were killed.

"It even takes me back to my location that day.

"I helped to carry Michael and place him in the ambulance.

"I went through every moment during the evidence.

"Notwithstanding having to go through the process – it's still meaningful for me."