How the Prosecution of a Former Soldier Over Bloody Sunday Concluded in Case Dismissal

January 30th, 1972 stands as among the most fatal – and consequential – dates in three decades of conflict in this area.

Throughout the area of the incident – the memories of the tragic events are visible on the structures and embedded in collective memory.

A protest demonstration was held on a chilly yet clear period in Derry.

The demonstration was opposing the policy of imprisonment without charges – holding suspects without trial – which had been implemented in response to multiple years of unrest.

Soldiers from the elite army unit shot dead thirteen individuals in the Bogside area – which was, and continues to be, a strongly republican population.

A specific visual became notably iconic.

Pictures showed a religious figure, Fr Edward Daly, using a bloodied white handkerchief while attempting to protect a assembly moving a youth, the injured teenager, who had been killed.

Media personnel documented extensive video on the day.

Documented accounts includes the priest explaining to a media representative that troops "appeared to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "completely sure" that there was no provocation for the gunfire.

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

The first investigation found the military had been attacked first.

Throughout the negotiation period, the ruling party set up another inquiry, in response to advocacy by bereaved relatives, who said the initial inquiry had been a inadequate investigation.

In 2010, the report by the investigation said that generally, the soldiers had discharged weapons initially and that none of the victims had posed any threat.

The contemporary head of state, the Prime Minister, expressed regret in the House of Commons – declaring deaths were "improper and inexcusable."

The police started to examine the incident.

An ex-soldier, referred to as Soldier F, was brought to trial for killing.

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

The accused was additionally charged of trying to kill Patrick O'Donnell, Joseph Friel, further individuals, another person, and an unnamed civilian.

There is a judicial decision preserving the veteran's privacy, which his legal team have maintained is essential because he is at risk of attack.

He stated to the Saville Inquiry that he had solely shot at persons who were armed.

This assertion was disputed in the final report.

Information from the inquiry would not be used directly as proof in the court case.

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

He made statements for the first time in court at a hearing in late 2024, to reply "not responsible" when the charges were presented.

Kin of the deceased on that day travelled from the city to the judicial building daily of the proceedings.

One relative, whose brother Michael was died, said they were aware that hearing the proceedings would be painful.

"I visualize everything in my memory," he said, as we examined the key areas mentioned in the case – from the location, where Michael was killed, to the adjoining the area, where one victim and the second person were fatally wounded.

"It returns me to my position that day.

"I helped to carry Michael and lay him in the vehicle.

"I relived the entire event during the testimony.

"But even with enduring everything – it's still worthwhile for me."