How this Trial of a Former Soldier Over the 1972 Londonderry Incident Concluded in Not Guilty Verdict

Sunday 30 January 1972 remains arguably the deadliest – and momentous – days during multiple decades of unrest in the region.

Within the community of the incident – the legacy of that fateful day are painted on the walls and seared in people's minds.

A public gathering was conducted on a chilly yet clear day in Londonderry.

The demonstration was opposing the system of internment – imprisoning people without due process – which had been established following three years of conflict.

Military personnel from the Parachute Regiment shot dead thirteen individuals in the district – which was, and still is, a overwhelmingly republican area.

A particular photograph became notably prominent.

Photographs showed a Catholic priest, Father Daly, using a blood-stained cloth while attempting to shield a crowd moving a youth, Jackie Duddy, who had been mortally injured.

News camera operators captured considerable film on the day.

Historical records contains the priest telling a journalist that troops "appeared to shoot indiscriminately" and he was "completely sure" that there was no provocation for the discharge of weapons.

That version of events was disputed by the original examination.

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

During the peace process, Tony Blair's government established another inquiry, after campaigning by surviving kin, who said the first investigation had been a inadequate investigation.

That year, the conclusion by the investigation said that overall, the paratroopers had initiated shooting and that none of the victims had been armed.

At that time head of state, the Prime Minister, apologised in the House of Commons – declaring fatalities were "without justification and unacceptable."

Authorities started to examine the events.

An ex-soldier, known as the defendant, was prosecuted for murder.

Accusations were made over the fatalities of one victim, in his twenties, and twenty-six-year-old William McKinney.

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

Remains a court ruling preserving the veteran's identity protection, which his lawyers have maintained is essential because he is at threat.

He stated to the Saville Inquiry that he had solely shot at individuals who were carrying weapons.

That claim was disputed in the official findings.

Information from the investigation was unable to be used directly as proof in the criminal process.

In court, the defendant was shielded from sight using a privacy screen.

He addressed the court for the opening instance in court at a session in late 2024, to respond "innocent" when the charges were presented.

Kin of the victims on that day travelled from Derry to the judicial building daily of the case.

A family member, whose sibling was fatally wounded, said they understood that listening to the trial would be painful.

"I visualize all details in my recollection," he said, as we walked around the primary sites discussed in the case – from the street, where the victim was shot dead, to the nearby the area, where James Wray and the second person were fatally wounded.

"It reminds me to my location that day.

"I participated in moving Michael and place him in the ambulance.

"I relived each detail during the testimony.

"Notwithstanding having to go through all that – it's still meaningful for me."