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January 30th, 1972 is remembered as among the most deadly – and consequential – occasions during three decades of unrest in Northern Ireland.

Within the community where it happened – the images of that fateful day are displayed on the buildings and embedded in people's minds.

A public gathering was conducted on a cold but bright period in Londonderry.

The march was opposing the practice of internment – holding suspects without due process – which had been implemented after three years of violence.

Soldiers from the Parachute Regiment killed multiple civilians in the neighborhood – which was, and still is, a predominantly republican area.

A specific visual became especially iconic.

Pictures showed a clergyman, Fr Edward Daly, using a stained with blood white handkerchief as he tried to shield a crowd moving a teenager, Jackie Duddy, who had been killed.

Journalists documented much footage on the day.

Documented accounts includes Father Daly informing a media representative that military personnel "gave the impression they would discharge weapons randomly" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no provocation for the gunfire.

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

The initial inquiry determined the military had been fired upon initially.

Throughout the resolution efforts, the ruling party commissioned another inquiry, in response to advocacy by family members, who said the first investigation had been a whitewash.

In 2010, the findings by the inquiry said that overall, the military personnel had fired first and that not one of the victims had been armed.

The contemporary government leader, David Cameron, issued an apology in the government chamber – stating deaths were "without justification and unjustifiable."

Law enforcement began to investigate the events.

One former paratrooper, identified as the accused, was brought to trial for killing.

He was charged concerning the killings of one victim, in his twenties, and in his mid-twenties another victim.

The accused was additionally charged of seeking to harm multiple individuals, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon, another person, and an unnamed civilian.

There is a judicial decision protecting the veteran's privacy, which his attorneys have claimed is necessary because he is at threat.

He told the examination that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at persons who were armed.

This assertion was disputed in the official findings.

Information from the examination was unable to be used directly as evidence in the criminal process.

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

He addressed the court for the opening instance in the proceedings at a hearing in late 2024, to answer "not responsible" when the accusations were put to him.

Kin of those who were killed on the incident travelled from Londonderry to the courthouse daily of the proceedings.

One relative, whose brother Michael was killed, said they were aware that listening to the proceedings would be painful.

"I visualize all details in my memory," the relative said, as we visited the key areas referenced in the case – from Rossville Street, where Michael was shot dead, to the nearby the area, where James Wray and the second person were killed.

"It reminds me to where I was that day.

"I participated in moving Michael and lay him in the vehicle.

"I experienced again every moment during the evidence.

"Notwithstanding enduring all that – it's still valuable for me."