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January 30th, 1972 stands as arguably the deadliest – and momentous – days in thirty years of unrest in the region.

In the streets where it happened – the legacy of Bloody Sunday are displayed on the walls and etched in people's minds.

A civil rights march was held on a cold but bright day in Derry.

The march was opposing the policy of internment – imprisoning people without legal proceedings – which had been put in place following three years of unrest.

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

A particular photograph became especially prominent.

Photographs showed a clergyman, the priest, displaying a stained with blood white handkerchief as he tried to protect a assembly carrying a youth, the injured teenager, who had been fatally wounded.

Media personnel captured extensive video on the day.

Documented accounts features the priest informing a journalist that soldiers "just seemed to shoot indiscriminately" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no provocation for the discharge of weapons.

The narrative of the incident was rejected by the first inquiry.

The initial inquiry concluded the soldiers had been attacked first.

Throughout the negotiation period, the ruling party commissioned a new investigation, after campaigning by surviving kin, who said Widgery had been a whitewash.

That year, the conclusion by the inquiry said that overall, the paratroopers had discharged weapons initially and that not one of the casualties had been armed.

The then government leader, David Cameron, issued an apology in the House of Commons – declaring fatalities were "improper and inexcusable."

The police commenced look into the incident.

One former paratrooper, referred to as the accused, was charged for murder.

Indictments were filed concerning the deaths of one victim, in his twenties, and twenty-six-year-old William McKinney.

The accused was additionally charged of seeking to harm Patrick O'Donnell, other civilians, more people, Michael Quinn, and an unnamed civilian.

Remains a judicial decision maintaining the soldier's anonymity, which his lawyers have maintained is necessary because he is at danger.

He told the investigation that he had solely shot at individuals who were carrying weapons.

The statement was disputed in the official findings.

Evidence from the inquiry could not be used directly as testimony in the legal proceedings.

During the trial, the veteran was shielded from sight with a blue curtain.

He spoke for the first time in court at a proceeding in late 2024, to reply "not responsible" when the charges were put to him.

Family members of the victims on the incident travelled from Derry to the courthouse each day of the case.

One relative, whose relative was killed, said they were aware that listening to the trial would be painful.

"I can see the events in my memory," John said, as we visited the main locations discussed in the proceedings – from Rossville Street, where Michael was killed, to the adjacent Glenfada Park, where the individual and the second person were died.

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

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

"I experienced again each detail during the evidence.

"Notwithstanding enduring everything – it's still valuable for me."