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January 30th, 1972 remains one of the deadliest – and momentous – dates in three decades of unrest in this area.

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

A protest demonstration was organized on a chilly yet clear day in Londonderry.

The demonstration was opposing the policy of detention without trial – holding suspects without legal proceedings – which had been established following multiple years of unrest.

Troops from the elite army unit fatally wounded thirteen individuals in the neighborhood – which was, and continues to be, a strongly republican population.

A particular photograph became notably prominent.

Pictures showed a religious figure, Father Daly, waving a stained with blood white handkerchief as he tried to defend a group moving a youth, the fatally wounded individual, who had been killed.

Media personnel recorded extensive video on the day.

The archive features the priest informing a media representative that soldiers "gave the impression they would discharge weapons randomly" and he was "completely sure" that there was no reason for the discharge of weapons.

This account of what happened wasn't accepted by the initial investigation.

The first investigation concluded the military had been fired upon initially.

During the negotiation period, the administration set up another inquiry, following pressure by family members, who said Widgery had been a cover-up.

That year, the report by the inquiry said that on balance, the soldiers had initiated shooting and that none of the individuals had been armed.

The contemporary Prime Minister, the leader, expressed regret in the government chamber – stating fatalities were "improper and inexcusable."

Authorities started to investigate the incident.

A military veteran, referred to as Soldier F, was charged for murder.

Accusations were made concerning the killings of the first individual, 22, and twenty-six-year-old the second individual.

The accused was additionally charged of attempting to murder several people, additional persons, further individuals, Michael Quinn, and an unnamed civilian.

Remains a legal order maintaining the veteran's identity protection, which his lawyers have argued is required because he is at danger.

He stated to the Saville Inquiry that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at individuals who were armed.

This assertion was dismissed in the official findings.

Material from the inquiry could not be used directly as testimony in the court case.

In court, the accused was screened from view using a blue curtain.

He made statements for the opening instance in the proceedings at a proceeding in late 2024, to respond "not guilty" when the charges were put to him.

Relatives of those who were killed on that day journeyed from Londonderry to the judicial building every day of the case.

John Kelly, whose brother Michael was killed, said they were aware that attending the proceedings would be difficult.

"I remember all details in my memory," John said, as we walked around the main locations discussed in the case – from Rossville Street, where his brother was killed, to the adjoining the courtyard, where one victim and the second person were fatally wounded.

"It reminds me to my position that day.

"I participated in moving the victim and put him in the ambulance.

"I relived every moment during the evidence.

"Despite having to go through all that – it's still meaningful for me."