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January 30th, 1972 stands as arguably the deadliest – and significant – occasions during three decades of unrest in the region.

In the streets of the incident – the images of the tragic events are visible on the walls and seared in public consciousness.

A public gathering was organized on a chilly yet clear period in Derry.

The protest was a protest against the policy of imprisonment without charges – detaining individuals without trial – which had been established after three years of conflict.

Soldiers from the Parachute Regiment fatally wounded 13 people in the Bogside area – which was, and remains, a overwhelmingly nationalist population.

One image became especially iconic.

Images showed a clergyman, the priest, using a bloodied white handkerchief while attempting to protect a crowd carrying a young man, Jackie Duddy, who had been killed.

News camera operators captured extensive video on the day.

The archive features the priest telling a reporter that troops "gave the impression they would discharge weapons randomly" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no provocation for the shooting.

That version of the incident wasn't accepted by the original examination.

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

Throughout the resolution efforts, the administration set up a fresh examination, in response to advocacy by bereaved relatives, who said the initial inquiry had been a whitewash.

In 2010, the report by Lord Saville said that on balance, the military personnel had initiated shooting and that none of the casualties had posed any threat.

At that time government leader, the Prime Minister, apologised in the Parliament – stating deaths were "without justification and inexcusable."

The police began to investigate the events.

An ex-soldier, identified as the defendant, was prosecuted for murder.

Indictments were filed over the killings of one victim, twenty-two, and 26-year-old William McKinney.

The defendant was additionally charged of trying to kill several people, additional persons, further individuals, Michael Quinn, and an unnamed civilian.

Exists a court ruling protecting the defendant's identity protection, which his lawyers have argued is necessary because he is at risk of attack.

He testified the examination that he had solely shot at individuals who were armed.

That claim was dismissed in the official findings.

Material from the examination was unable to be used immediately as testimony in the criminal process.

During the trial, the accused was screened from view with a blue curtain.

He spoke for the initial occasion in court at a proceeding in December 2024, to answer "not responsible" when the allegations were put to him.

Relatives of the deceased on that day made the trip from Derry to Belfast Crown Court daily of the trial.

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

"I can see all details in my memory," the relative said, as we examined the primary sites mentioned in the proceedings – from Rossville Street, where the victim was fatally wounded, to the nearby Glenfada Park, where the individual and the second person were died.

"It returns me to where I was that day.

"I participated in moving the victim and place him in the vehicle.

"I experienced again the entire event during the proceedings.

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