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January 30th, 1972 is remembered as arguably the deadliest – and consequential – days in three decades of violence in the region.

Throughout the area where events unfolded – the images of Bloody Sunday are displayed on the structures and embedded in collective memory.

A protest demonstration was held on a wintry, sunny afternoon in the city.

The march was opposing the policy of imprisonment without charges – holding suspects without legal proceedings – which had been implemented in response to multiple years of unrest.

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

A particular photograph became especially prominent.

Pictures showed a Catholic priest, Fr Edward Daly, using a stained with blood white handkerchief in his effort to shield a group transporting a teenager, the injured teenager, who had been mortally injured.

Media personnel documented much footage on the day.

Historical records features Fr Daly explaining to a journalist that troops "just seemed to shoot indiscriminately" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no reason for the shooting.

That version of events was disputed by the first inquiry.

The initial inquiry determined the military had been shot at first.

Throughout the resolution efforts, the administration commissioned a new investigation, following pressure by surviving kin, who said the first investigation had been a cover-up.

That year, the conclusion by the investigation said that generally, the soldiers had discharged weapons initially and that zero among the victims had been armed.

The then head of state, the leader, apologised in the government chamber – saying deaths were "unjustified and unacceptable."

The police started to examine the matter.

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

Accusations were made over the deaths of the first individual, twenty-two, and in his mid-twenties another victim.

The accused was further implicated of trying to kill several people, Joseph Friel, further individuals, another person, and an unnamed civilian.

There is a legal order maintaining the veteran's privacy, which his lawyers have argued is necessary because he is at threat.

He stated to the Saville Inquiry that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at people who were carrying weapons.

This assertion was rejected in the final report.

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

During the trial, the veteran was hidden from public behind a protective barrier.

He made statements for the first time in the proceedings at a hearing in December 2024, to reply "not responsible" when the accusations were put to him.

Relatives of those who were killed on that day made the trip from Londonderry to Belfast Crown Court daily of the proceedings.

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

"I can see everything in my recollection," the relative said, as we examined the key areas referenced in the case – from the street, where Michael was killed, to the adjacent Glenfada Park, where the individual and William McKinney were fatally wounded.

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

"I helped to carry my brother and lay him in the vehicle.

"I went through each detail during the evidence.

"But even with experiencing everything – it's still meaningful for me."