The Way this Prosecution of an Army Veteran Over the 1972 Londonderry Incident Concluded in Acquittal

January 30th, 1972 remains one of the deadliest – and momentous – days in multiple decades of conflict in the region.

Throughout the area where it happened – the images of that fateful day are displayed on the walls and etched in people's minds.

A civil rights march was held on a chilly yet clear period in Derry.

The protest was opposing the practice of imprisonment without charges – holding suspects without trial – which had been put in place in response to an extended period of violence.

Soldiers from the Parachute Regiment fatally wounded thirteen individuals in the neighborhood – which was, and still is, a predominantly republican population.

One image became especially memorable.

Pictures showed a Catholic priest, the priest, using a blood-stained fabric while attempting to protect a group carrying a teenager, the injured teenager, who had been killed.

News camera operators captured extensive video on the day.

Historical records includes Father Daly informing a journalist that troops "appeared to fire in all directions" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no provocation for the shooting.

That version of events wasn't accepted by the first inquiry.

The initial inquiry determined the soldiers had been attacked first.

During the resolution efforts, Tony Blair's government commissioned a fresh examination, after campaigning by bereaved relatives, who said the first investigation had been a inadequate investigation.

In 2010, the report by the investigation said that overall, the military personnel had discharged weapons initially and that not one of the individuals had presented danger.

The then Prime Minister, the Prime Minister, apologised in the House of Commons – declaring killings were "unjustified and inexcusable."

Authorities started to look into the matter.

A military veteran, identified as the accused, was charged for homicide.

Accusations were made concerning the fatalities of the first individual, in his twenties, and in his mid-twenties William McKinney.

The defendant was also accused of trying to kill several people, additional persons, more people, an additional individual, and an unnamed civilian.

There is a judicial decision preserving the soldier's anonymity, which his legal team have argued is required because he is at risk of attack.

He testified the examination that he had solely shot at persons who were possessing firearms.

This assertion was dismissed in the concluding document.

Material from the inquiry was unable to be used immediately as testimony in the criminal process.

In court, the accused was screened from view with a blue curtain.

He spoke for the opening instance in the hearing at a proceeding in late 2024, to answer "innocent" when the charges were read.

Kin of those who were killed on Bloody Sunday journeyed from Derry to Belfast Crown Court every day of the trial.

John Kelly, whose relative was killed, said they understood that listening to the proceedings would be emotional.

"I can see everything in my recollection," the relative said, as we visited the primary sites referenced in the case – from the street, where the victim was fatally wounded, to the adjoining the courtyard, where the individual and the second person were died.

"It returns me to my location that day.

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

"I relived the entire event during the testimony.

"Despite having to go through all that – it's still valuable for me."