How this Legal Case of a Former Soldier Over Bloody Sunday Ended in Acquittal

January 30th, 1972 remains arguably the most fatal – and momentous – days throughout thirty years of conflict in Northern Ireland.

Throughout the area where events unfolded – the legacy of that fateful day are displayed on the buildings and embedded in people's minds.

A civil rights march was organized on a wintry, sunny period in the city.

The march was challenging the practice of detention without trial – holding suspects without due process – which had been established after an extended period of conflict.

Troops from the elite army unit shot dead 13 people in the Bogside area – which was, and continues to be, a overwhelmingly republican area.

A particular photograph became particularly iconic.

Photographs showed a Catholic priest, the priest, using a bloodied fabric in his effort to defend a group moving a youth, the fatally wounded individual, who had been fatally wounded.

News camera operators captured considerable film on the day.

The archive features Father Daly telling a journalist that soldiers "gave the impression they would shoot indiscriminately" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no justification for the gunfire.

That version of the incident was disputed by the first inquiry.

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

Throughout the peace process, the ruling party set up another inquiry, following pressure by bereaved relatives, who said the first investigation had been a cover-up.

In 2010, the findings by the inquiry said that generally, the paratroopers had fired first and that not one of the individuals had posed any threat.

At that time head of state, David Cameron, apologised in the Parliament – saying killings were "without justification and unjustifiable."

The police began to look into the incident.

A military veteran, known as Soldier F, was charged for homicide.

Indictments were filed regarding the deaths of James Wray, twenty-two, and 26-year-old another victim.

The defendant was additionally charged of seeking to harm Patrick O'Donnell, Joseph Friel, more people, Michael Quinn, and an unidentified individual.

There is a judicial decision preserving the veteran's identity protection, which his legal team have maintained is essential because he is at danger.

He testified the examination that he had only fired at persons who were armed.

That claim was rejected in the official findings.

Material from the inquiry could not be used directly as testimony in the court case.

In court, the defendant was screened from view using a protective barrier.

He addressed the court for the initial occasion in the hearing at a hearing in that month, to reply "not guilty" when the charges were presented.

Kin of the victims on that day journeyed from Londonderry to the courthouse each day of the trial.

One relative, whose relative was killed, said they were aware that attending the case would be difficult.

"I visualize the events in my mind's eye," the relative said, as we examined the key areas discussed in the case – from the street, where his brother was shot dead, to the adjoining the area, where James Wray and William McKinney were fatally wounded.

"It returns me to my location that day.

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

"I experienced again every moment during the evidence.

"Notwithstanding experiencing all that – it's still valuable for me."