The Way the Trial of a Former Soldier Over the 1972 Londonderry Incident Ended in Not Guilty Verdict

Sunday 30 January 1972 stands as one of the most deadly – and significant – occasions throughout three decades of unrest in this area.

In the streets where it happened – the images of that fateful day are visible on the walls and etched in collective memory.

A civil rights march was held on a chilly yet clear day in the city.

The march was a protest against the practice of imprisonment without charges – holding suspects without trial – which had been implemented after multiple years of violence.

Soldiers from the Parachute Regiment shot dead 13 people in the Bogside area – which was, and remains, a strongly republican community.

A specific visual became especially memorable.

Photographs showed a clergyman, Father Daly, waving a blood-stained white handkerchief in his effort to shield a crowd transporting a young man, the fatally wounded individual, who had been mortally injured.

News camera operators captured much footage on the day.

Historical records contains the priest telling a reporter that troops "just seemed to fire in all directions" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no provocation for the discharge of weapons.

The narrative of what happened was rejected by the first inquiry.

The first investigation found the Army had been shot at first.

During the resolution efforts, Tony Blair's government set up another inquiry, after campaigning by bereaved relatives, who said the first investigation had been a cover-up.

In 2010, the conclusion by Lord Saville said that overall, the military personnel had discharged weapons initially and that none of the individuals had been armed.

The contemporary Prime Minister, David Cameron, issued an apology in the House of Commons – saying fatalities were "improper and inexcusable."

Authorities started to investigate the incident.

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

Accusations were made concerning the fatalities of the first individual, in his twenties, and 26-year-old the second individual.

The accused was further implicated of trying to kill several people, additional persons, more people, another person, and an unidentified individual.

There is a court ruling protecting the soldier's privacy, which his legal team have argued is essential because he is at threat.

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

The statement was rejected in the final report.

Evidence from the inquiry would not be used immediately as evidence in the court case.

In the dock, the veteran was screened from view using a privacy screen.

He made statements for the first time in the hearing at a proceeding in that month, to respond "not guilty" when the charges were read.

Family members of the deceased on that day made the trip from the city to the judicial building each day of the trial.

John Kelly, whose relative was fatally wounded, said they were aware that hearing the case would be painful.

"I can see everything in my memory," he said, as we visited the primary sites mentioned in the proceedings – from Rossville Street, where the victim was shot dead, to the nearby Glenfada Park, where James Wray and William McKinney were died.

"It returns me to my position that day.

"I participated in moving Michael and place him in the medical transport.

"I relived each detail during the testimony.

"But even with experiencing all that – it's still meaningful for me."