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

Throughout the area where events unfolded – the memories of that fateful day are displayed on the walls and embedded in people's minds.

A protest demonstration was held on a cold but bright afternoon in Londonderry.

The march was opposing the practice of internment – holding suspects without due process – which had been put in place following multiple years of unrest.

Troops from the elite army unit killed thirteen individuals in the Bogside area – which was, and remains, a overwhelmingly Irish nationalist population.

One image became especially memorable.

Pictures showed a Catholic priest, Fr Edward Daly, using a stained with blood fabric as he tried to defend a assembly carrying a youth, the fatally wounded individual, who had been mortally injured.

Media personnel documented much footage on the day.

The archive features the priest explaining to a reporter that military personnel "just seemed to shoot indiscriminately" and he was "completely sure" that there was no reason for the shooting.

This account of the incident was rejected by the first inquiry.

The initial inquiry found the Army had been fired upon initially.

During the negotiation period, the ruling party set up a new investigation, following pressure by surviving kin, who said Widgery had been a cover-up.

During 2010, the findings by the inquiry said that on balance, the paratroopers had fired first and that not one of the victims had been armed.

At that time Prime Minister, David Cameron, issued an apology in the Parliament – saying killings were "improper and unacceptable."

Authorities commenced look into the matter.

A military veteran, referred to as the defendant, was charged for murder.

He was charged regarding the killings of the first individual, twenty-two, and twenty-six-year-old William McKinney.

The defendant was further implicated of attempting to murder Patrick O'Donnell, additional persons, more people, Michael Quinn, and an unidentified individual.

Exists a judicial decision preserving the defendant's anonymity, which his legal team have argued is necessary because he is at risk of attack.

He testified the investigation that he had solely shot at people who were armed.

That claim was dismissed in the official findings.

Evidence from the inquiry was unable to be used directly as testimony in the criminal process.

During the trial, the defendant was screened from view using a protective barrier.

He addressed the court for the initial occasion in court at a session in late 2024, to answer "not guilty" when the charges were presented.

Relatives of the victims on that day made the trip from the city to the courthouse each day of the proceedings.

One relative, whose sibling was died, said they always knew that attending the case would be difficult.

"I visualize everything in my mind's eye," John said, as we visited the key areas referenced in the case – from the street, where the victim was shot dead, to the nearby the area, where one victim and another victim were killed.

"It returns me to my position that day.

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

"I relived the entire event during the evidence.

"But even with having to go through all that – it's still worthwhile for me."