How this Prosecution of a Former Soldier Regarding Bloody Sunday Concluded in Not Guilty Verdict

January 30th, 1972 stands as one of the most fatal – and significant – days in three decades of conflict in Northern Ireland.

In the streets of the incident – the memories of the tragic events are visible on the buildings and embedded in collective memory.

A public gathering was conducted on a cold but bright day in Londonderry.

The demonstration was challenging the policy of imprisonment without charges – detaining individuals without trial – which had been put in place in response to multiple years of violence.

Soldiers from the specialized division shot dead 13 people in the Bogside area – which was, and continues to be, a strongly Irish nationalist population.

A particular photograph became especially memorable.

Images showed a religious figure, the priest, waving a blood-stained white handkerchief in his effort to protect a assembly carrying a teenager, Jackie Duddy, who had been mortally injured.

Media personnel documented extensive video on the day.

The archive includes Fr Daly explaining to a journalist that military personnel "gave the impression they would shoot indiscriminately" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no reason for the discharge of weapons.

This account of the incident wasn't accepted by the initial investigation.

The first investigation found the soldiers had been fired upon initially.

Throughout the negotiation period, Tony Blair's government established a new investigation, following pressure by bereaved relatives, who said the first investigation had been a inadequate investigation.

That year, the conclusion by the investigation said that on balance, the paratroopers had initiated shooting and that none of the casualties had presented danger.

The contemporary head of state, the leader, apologised in the government chamber – declaring killings were "unjustified and inexcusable."

Law enforcement began to examine the incident.

An ex-soldier, identified as Soldier F, was brought to trial for homicide.

Accusations were made regarding the fatalities of one victim, 22, and 26-year-old the second individual.

The accused was also accused of seeking to harm several people, Joseph Friel, more people, another person, and an unnamed civilian.

There is a court ruling maintaining the veteran's privacy, which his legal team have claimed is required because he is at risk of attack.

He testified the investigation that he had only fired at people who were possessing firearms.

The statement was rejected in the official findings.

Evidence from the inquiry would not be used immediately as proof in the criminal process.

In the dock, the defendant was screened from view behind a blue curtain.

He made statements for the opening instance in the hearing at a proceeding in that month, to answer "not responsible" when the allegations were put to him.

Family members of the victims on Bloody Sunday travelled from the city to the courthouse daily of the proceedings.

One relative, whose sibling was killed, said they always knew that hearing the case would be emotional.

"I can see all details in my recollection," the relative said, as we examined the primary sites discussed in the proceedings – from Rossville Street, where the victim was shot dead, to the adjacent Glenfada Park, where James Wray and the second person were died.

"It even takes me back to my position that day.

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

"I experienced again each detail during the testimony.

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