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

Throughout the area of the incident – the legacy of Bloody Sunday are painted on the walls and etched in public consciousness.

A civil rights march was held on a cold but bright period in Londonderry.

The march was a protest against the practice of internment – holding suspects without legal proceedings – which had been implemented in response to multiple years of conflict.

Military personnel from the elite army unit shot dead 13 people in the Bogside area – which was, and still is, a predominantly Irish nationalist area.

A specific visual became notably prominent.

Pictures showed a Catholic priest, Father Daly, displaying a blood-stained white handkerchief while attempting to shield a crowd moving a youth, Jackie Duddy, who had been mortally injured.

Media personnel captured extensive video on the day.

The archive features the priest explaining to a reporter that military personnel "gave the impression they would fire in all directions" and he was "completely sure" that there was no justification for the discharge of weapons.

That version of what happened was rejected by the initial investigation.

The Widgery Tribunal found the Army had been shot at first.

In the resolution efforts, Tony Blair's government established a new investigation, following pressure by surviving kin, who said Widgery had been a whitewash.

That year, the report by Lord Saville said that overall, the soldiers had initiated shooting and that none of the victims had posed any threat.

The contemporary head of state, David Cameron, apologised in the House of Commons – saying killings were "without justification and unacceptable."

Authorities began to examine the matter.

An ex-soldier, referred to as the defendant, was charged for killing.

Accusations were made regarding the deaths of one victim, twenty-two, and 26-year-old another victim.

The accused was additionally charged of attempting to murder multiple individuals, additional persons, further individuals, another person, and an unknown person.

There is a court ruling preserving the defendant's identity protection, which his attorneys have maintained is required because he is at danger.

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

This assertion was rejected in the final report.

Material from the examination could not be used immediately as evidence in the criminal process.

In court, the veteran was shielded from sight behind a privacy screen.

He addressed the court for the opening instance in court at a proceeding in December 2024, to answer "innocent" when the charges were read.

Family members of those who were killed on the incident travelled from Londonderry to the judicial building every day of the proceedings.

A family member, whose sibling was killed, said they understood that hearing the trial would be painful.

"I visualize the events in my memory," the relative said, as we walked around the key areas referenced in the trial – from the street, where his brother was killed, to the adjacent Glenfada Park, where one victim and another victim were died.

"It returns me to my location that day.

"I assisted with Michael and put him in the medical transport.

"I experienced again every moment during the proceedings.

"Notwithstanding having to go through the process – it's still valuable for me."