How the Legal Case of an Army Veteran Over Bloody Sunday Ended in Case Dismissal

Youths in a tense situation with military personnel on Bloody Sunday
Youths in a confrontation with military personnel on Bloody Sunday

January 30th, 1972 stands as one of the most deadly – and momentous – dates in multiple decades of conflict in Northern Ireland.

Throughout the area of the incident – the memories of Bloody Sunday are displayed on the buildings and embedded in collective memory.

A public gathering was organized on a cold but bright afternoon in the city.

The demonstration was challenging the policy of imprisonment without charges – imprisoning people without legal proceedings – which had been implemented in response to three years of violence.

A Catholic priest used a white cloth stained with blood as he tried to defend a assembly transporting a teenager, the fatally wounded youth
Fr Edward Daly waved a blood-stained handkerchief as he tried to shield a group transporting a young man, the injured teenager

Military personnel from the specialized division fatally wounded thirteen individuals in the neighborhood – which was, and still is, a predominantly Irish nationalist population.

A particular photograph became particularly iconic.

Pictures showed a clergyman, Father Daly, waving a bloodied white handkerchief while attempting to protect a crowd carrying a young man, the fatally wounded individual, who had been mortally injured.

Media personnel recorded much footage on the day.

Documented accounts includes Father Daly explaining to a reporter that troops "just seemed to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no justification for the discharge of weapons.

Protesters in the neighborhood being taken to arrest by British troops on Bloody Sunday
Civilians in the neighborhood being marched towards arrest by military personnel on Bloody Sunday

That version of the incident wasn't accepted by the initial investigation.

The Widgery Tribunal concluded the military had been shot at first.

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

In 2010, the report by the investigation said that generally, the military personnel had discharged weapons initially and that not one of the casualties had been armed.

At that time Prime Minister, the Prime Minister, issued an apology in the Parliament – declaring fatalities were "improper and unacceptable."

Families of the deceased of the tragic event killings process from the district of the city to the civic building displaying photographs of their loved ones
Kin of the casualties of the Bloody Sunday fatalities march from the neighborhood of the city to the Guildhall holding pictures of their loved ones

Authorities started to look into the events.

An ex-soldier, referred to as the defendant, was brought to trial for homicide.

Indictments were filed regarding the fatalities of one victim, in his twenties, and 26-year-old another victim.

The accused was further implicated of trying to kill several people, other civilians, more people, Michael Quinn, and an unnamed civilian.

Remains a judicial decision protecting the veteran's anonymity, which his legal team have argued is essential because he is at risk of attack.

He stated to the Saville Inquiry that he had only fired at individuals who were possessing firearms.

That claim was rejected in the official findings.

Evidence from the inquiry could not be used straightforwardly as testimony in the court case.

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

He spoke for the first time in the hearing at a session in December 2024, to reply "innocent" when the accusations were presented.

Relatives and allies of those killed on Bloody Sunday carry a sign and photographs of the victims
Relatives and allies of those killed on that day carry a banner and images of the victims

Relatives of those who were killed on the incident travelled from the city to the judicial building every day of the proceedings.

One relative, whose relative was killed, said they always knew that listening to the case would be emotional.

"I visualize the events in my recollection," John said, as we visited the main locations discussed in the proceedings – from the location, where his brother was fatally wounded, to the nearby the area, where James Wray and the second person were fatally wounded.

"It reminds me to where I was that day.

"I assisted with Michael and put him in the medical transport.

"I went through each detail during the proceedings.

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

One victim (left) and Another victim (right) were among those who were killed on Bloody Sunday
Marie Gonzalez
Marie Gonzalez

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