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

Sunday 30 January 1972 stands as arguably the most deadly – and consequential – dates in thirty years of conflict in Northern Ireland.

Throughout the area where it happened – the memories of that fateful day are displayed on the buildings and etched in public consciousness.

A protest demonstration was conducted on a chilly yet clear day in Derry.

The march was challenging the system of internment – imprisoning people without due process – which had been implemented after multiple years of violence.

Troops from the specialized division fatally wounded 13 people in the district – which was, and still is, a predominantly Irish nationalist population.

A specific visual became notably memorable.

Photographs showed a Catholic priest, Father Daly, waving a stained with blood white handkerchief as he tried to shield a crowd moving a young man, the injured teenager, who had been fatally wounded.

News camera operators documented extensive video on the day.

Documented accounts contains Fr Daly informing a reporter that military personnel "just seemed to shoot indiscriminately" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no justification for the gunfire.

That version of events was disputed by the initial investigation.

The first investigation determined the military had been shot at first.

Throughout the peace process, the administration commissioned another inquiry, following pressure by surviving kin, who said the first investigation had been a whitewash.

During 2010, the conclusion by Lord Saville said that generally, the military personnel had discharged weapons initially and that not one of the casualties had been armed.

The then head of state, David Cameron, issued an apology in the House of Commons – saying fatalities were "unjustified and inexcusable."

The police started to look into the events.

A military veteran, referred to as Soldier F, was brought to trial for homicide.

He was charged over the killings of the first individual, in his twenties, and 26-year-old another victim.

Soldier F was also accused of attempting to murder several people, other civilians, more people, an additional individual, and an unidentified individual.

Exists a court ruling protecting the veteran's anonymity, which his attorneys have maintained is necessary because he is at danger.

He told the examination that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at individuals who were carrying weapons.

That claim was rejected in the concluding document.

Evidence from the investigation would not be used straightforwardly as proof in the criminal process.

During the trial, the accused was screened from view behind a protective barrier.

He addressed the court for the initial occasion in court at a proceeding in that month, to answer "not guilty" when the accusations were read.

Kin of the deceased on Bloody Sunday made the trip from Londonderry to Belfast Crown Court each day of the proceedings.

One relative, whose relative was fatally wounded, said they understood that hearing the case would be emotional.

"I can see all details in my memory," he said, as we visited the key areas discussed in the proceedings – from the street, where Michael was fatally wounded, to the nearby the area, where one victim and William McKinney were killed.

"It reminds me to my location that day.

"I participated in moving the victim and put him in the vehicle.

"I experienced again every moment during the testimony.

"Despite experiencing all that – it's still meaningful for me."