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Sunday 30 January 1972 is remembered as one of the deadliest – and significant – occasions during three decades of violence in Northern Ireland.

Throughout the area where events unfolded – the memories of the tragic events are visible on the structures and seared in collective memory.

A protest demonstration was held on a wintry, sunny day in Londonderry.

The demonstration was opposing the practice of detention without trial – detaining individuals without legal proceedings – which had been put in place after three years of conflict.

Military personnel from the Parachute Regiment killed thirteen individuals in the neighborhood – which was, and still is, a strongly nationalist area.

A particular photograph became notably memorable.

Images showed a Catholic priest, Father Daly, waving a bloodied fabric in his effort to defend a crowd moving a young man, the injured teenager, who had been mortally injured.

Journalists captured extensive video on the day.

The archive features Father Daly telling a journalist that soldiers "gave the impression they would fire in all directions" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no provocation for the gunfire.

The narrative of what happened was disputed by the first inquiry.

The Widgery Tribunal concluded the military had been shot at first.

During the negotiation period, the ruling party commissioned another inquiry, following pressure by bereaved relatives, who said Widgery had been a inadequate investigation.

That year, the report by the investigation said that on balance, the paratroopers had discharged weapons initially and that zero among the victims had been armed.

The contemporary head of state, David Cameron, issued an apology in the House of Commons – saying deaths were "improper and unacceptable."

Law enforcement started to investigate the events.

One former paratrooper, identified as the defendant, was prosecuted for homicide.

Indictments were filed over the fatalities of James Wray, in his twenties, and in his mid-twenties William McKinney.

The accused was additionally charged of seeking to harm Patrick O'Donnell, other civilians, further individuals, an additional individual, and an unknown person.

Exists a legal order maintaining the defendant's privacy, which his legal team have claimed is essential because he is at danger.

He told the investigation that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at persons who were carrying weapons.

This assertion was dismissed in the official findings.

Evidence from the investigation would not be used directly as testimony in the legal proceedings.

In the dock, the accused was screened from view with a privacy screen.

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

Family members of the deceased on the incident journeyed from Derry to the judicial building each day of the trial.

One relative, whose sibling was fatally wounded, said they understood that listening to the case would be painful.

"I can see everything in my memory," John said, as we walked around the main locations discussed in the trial – from the street, where his brother was shot dead, to the nearby Glenfada Park, where one victim and the second person were died.

"It reminds me to my position that day.

"I assisted with Michael and put him in the vehicle.

"I relived the entire event during the proceedings.

"Despite having to go through the process – it's still meaningful for me."