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January 30th, 1972 remains among the most fatal – and significant – dates in three decades of violence in Northern Ireland.

Within the community where events unfolded – the memories of that fateful day are displayed on the walls and etched in collective memory.

A civil rights march was held on a chilly yet clear afternoon in the city.

The protest was opposing the system of imprisonment without charges – holding suspects without due process – which had been established in response to three years of violence.

Military personnel from the Parachute Regiment fatally wounded thirteen individuals in the Bogside area – which was, and continues to be, a predominantly Irish nationalist population.

One image became particularly iconic.

Photographs showed a Catholic priest, the priest, using a bloodied fabric while attempting to defend a assembly carrying a teenager, the injured teenager, who had been mortally injured.

News camera operators documented considerable film on the day.

Documented accounts features Father Daly informing a journalist that soldiers "just seemed to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "completely sure" that there was no reason for the shooting.

That version of what happened was disputed by the first inquiry.

The first investigation concluded the military had been attacked first.

Throughout the peace process, the administration commissioned a fresh examination, in response to advocacy by bereaved relatives, who said the first investigation had been a whitewash.

In 2010, the conclusion by the inquiry said that on balance, the military personnel had discharged weapons initially and that not one of the individuals had presented danger.

The then government leader, David Cameron, apologised in the House of Commons – declaring deaths were "without justification and unjustifiable."

Authorities commenced investigate the events.

A military veteran, identified as the defendant, was brought to trial for homicide.

Accusations were made regarding the deaths of James Wray, twenty-two, and 26-year-old another victim.

Soldier F was also accused of trying to kill several people, additional persons, more people, another person, and an unidentified individual.

There is a legal order maintaining the veteran's anonymity, which his attorneys have argued is essential because he is at danger.

He stated to the investigation that he had only fired at people who were carrying weapons.

That claim was dismissed in the official findings.

Material from the inquiry would not be used straightforwardly as testimony in the court case.

In court, the accused was shielded from sight with a blue curtain.

He spoke for the opening instance in the proceedings at a session in late 2024, to answer "not responsible" when the accusations were read.

Kin of the victims on that day travelled from Londonderry to Belfast Crown Court each day of the case.

A family member, whose brother Michael was died, said they always knew that listening to the proceedings would be difficult.

"I remember all details in my memory," John said, as we visited the key areas mentioned in the case – from the street, where his brother was fatally wounded, to the adjoining the courtyard, where the individual and another victim were died.

"It reminds me to my position that day.

"I helped to carry the victim and lay him in the ambulance.

"I experienced again each detail during the testimony.

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