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

Throughout the area where events unfolded – the legacy of Bloody Sunday are displayed on the walls and seared in public consciousness.

A civil rights march was conducted on a chilly yet clear day in Derry.

The protest was opposing the policy of internment – holding suspects without trial – which had been put in place after three years of conflict.

Military personnel from the Parachute Regiment shot dead 13 people in the district – which was, and still is, a strongly Irish nationalist area.

A particular photograph became notably prominent.

Pictures showed a Catholic priest, Father Daly, using a bloodied white handkerchief as he tried to defend a crowd moving a teenager, the injured teenager, who had been fatally wounded.

Journalists documented extensive video on the day.

Historical records contains the priest telling a reporter that troops "appeared to fire in all directions" and he was "completely sure" that there was no justification for the discharge of weapons.

That version of events was rejected by the original examination.

The first investigation concluded the military had been shot at first.

In the negotiation period, the ruling party commissioned a new investigation, in response to advocacy by family members, who said the first investigation had been a inadequate investigation.

In 2010, the findings by the inquiry said that on balance, the paratroopers had fired first and that none of the victims had posed any threat.

The contemporary head of state, the Prime Minister, issued an apology in the government chamber – saying deaths were "improper and unjustifiable."

Authorities started to examine the incident.

A military veteran, identified as the defendant, was charged for homicide.

He was charged regarding the fatalities of one victim, in his twenties, and 26-year-old the second individual.

The defendant was further implicated of attempting to murder several people, Joseph Friel, further individuals, an additional individual, and an unidentified individual.

Exists a court ruling preserving the soldier's anonymity, which his legal team have claimed is necessary because he is at danger.

He testified the examination that he had solely shot at people who were carrying weapons.

The statement was rejected in the final report.

Information from the investigation would not be used immediately as testimony in the legal proceedings.

In the dock, the veteran was hidden from public with a protective barrier.

He addressed the court for the first time in court at a hearing in late 2024, to reply "not responsible" when the allegations were presented.

Family members of the deceased on the incident travelled from Londonderry to the judicial building every day of the trial.

One relative, whose brother Michael was fatally wounded, said they were aware that listening to the proceedings would be difficult.

"I can see all details in my mind's eye," he said, as we visited the key areas discussed in the trial – from Rossville Street, where the victim was fatally wounded, to the adjoining the area, where James Wray and the second person were fatally wounded.

"It reminds me to where I was that day.

"I assisted with my brother and place him in the vehicle.

"I experienced again the entire event during the proceedings.

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