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January 30th, 1972 is remembered as arguably the most deadly – and significant – days in thirty years of unrest in this area.

Throughout the area where it happened – the images of that fateful day are visible on the structures and seared in collective memory.

A protest demonstration was organized on a cold but bright afternoon in Derry.

The march was a protest against the policy of detention without trial – detaining individuals without trial – which had been implemented following multiple years of unrest.

Troops from the elite army unit shot dead 13 people in the district – which was, and remains, a overwhelmingly nationalist area.

One image became notably prominent.

Images showed a Catholic priest, the priest, waving a stained with blood fabric as he tried to defend a group carrying a teenager, the fatally wounded individual, who had been mortally injured.

Journalists documented considerable film on the day.

Historical records features the priest informing a reporter that soldiers "just seemed to shoot indiscriminately" and he was "completely sure" that there was no provocation for the shooting.

This account of the incident was rejected by the initial investigation.

The Widgery Tribunal found the soldiers had been shot at first.

In the peace process, Tony Blair's government set up another inquiry, in response to advocacy by family members, who said the first investigation had been a cover-up.

That year, the conclusion by Lord Saville said that overall, the paratroopers had initiated shooting and that none of the victims had been armed.

The contemporary head of state, the leader, issued an apology in the Parliament – stating killings were "without justification and unacceptable."

The police began to examine the matter.

An ex-soldier, referred to as the accused, was brought to trial for homicide.

Indictments were filed over the deaths of one victim, twenty-two, and twenty-six-year-old the second individual.

The accused was further implicated of seeking to harm Patrick O'Donnell, additional persons, further individuals, an additional individual, and an unknown person.

There is a judicial decision preserving the soldier's identity protection, which his attorneys have maintained is essential because he is at threat.

He stated to the investigation that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at persons who were armed.

The statement was dismissed in the concluding document.

Material from the inquiry was unable to be used immediately as testimony in the court case.

In the dock, the veteran was hidden from public with a blue curtain.

He spoke for the initial occasion in the proceedings at a session in late 2024, to reply "innocent" when the accusations were presented.

Family members of the victims on Bloody Sunday journeyed from the city to the courthouse daily of the case.

A family member, whose brother Michael was died, said they were aware that listening to the trial would be emotional.

"I remember the events in my mind's eye," John said, as we visited the key areas discussed in the proceedings – from Rossville Street, where his brother was fatally wounded, to the adjoining Glenfada Park, where one victim and another victim were died.

"It even takes me back to where I was that day.

"I participated in moving my brother and put him in the ambulance.

"I experienced again every moment during the proceedings.

"Notwithstanding having to go through everything – it's still worthwhile for me."