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January 30th, 1972 remains among the most deadly – and momentous – occasions in multiple decades of conflict in the region.

In the streets where events unfolded – the memories of the tragic events are visible on the buildings and embedded in public consciousness.

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

The march was a protest against the practice of imprisonment without charges – detaining individuals without trial – which had been established in response to an extended period of violence.

Military personnel from the Parachute Regiment fatally wounded thirteen individuals in the district – which was, and continues to be, a strongly nationalist population.

A specific visual became particularly iconic.

Pictures showed a religious figure, Fr Edward Daly, using a bloodied cloth in his effort to protect a group transporting a young man, Jackie Duddy, who had been killed.

Media personnel recorded extensive video on the day.

The archive features Father Daly explaining to a media representative that soldiers "appeared to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no provocation for the gunfire.

That version of events was disputed by the first inquiry.

The Widgery Tribunal determined the soldiers had been fired upon initially.

Throughout the negotiation period, the ruling party set up a new investigation, after campaigning by family members, who said the initial inquiry had been a whitewash.

That year, the findings by the inquiry said that overall, the soldiers had initiated shooting and that not one of the victims had been armed.

At that time head of state, the Prime Minister, issued an apology in the Parliament – saying fatalities were "without justification and inexcusable."

Law enforcement started to examine the events.

An ex-soldier, identified as the defendant, was charged for homicide.

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

The defendant was also accused of trying to kill multiple individuals, Joseph Friel, further individuals, another person, and an unnamed civilian.

Exists a legal order preserving the veteran's anonymity, which his legal team have argued is necessary because he is at threat.

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

This assertion was rejected in the official findings.

Evidence from the examination could not be used immediately as proof in the court case.

In court, the veteran was shielded from sight using a blue curtain.

He made statements for the first time in the proceedings at a hearing in late 2024, to answer "innocent" when the charges were put to him.

Relatives of the deceased on that day made the trip from Derry to Belfast Crown Court daily of the case.

One relative, whose brother Michael was died, said they always knew that attending the proceedings would be emotional.

"I visualize the events in my mind's eye," the relative said, as we visited the primary sites referenced in the trial – from Rossville Street, where his brother was fatally wounded, to the adjacent the area, where the individual and the second person were fatally wounded.

"It returns me to my position that day.

"I participated in moving my brother and lay him in the vehicle.

"I went through the entire event during the testimony.

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