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January 30th, 1972 remains among the deadliest – and significant – occasions during multiple decades of violence in this area.

In the streets where events unfolded – the images of Bloody Sunday are visible on the walls and embedded in people's minds.

A civil rights march was organized on a wintry, sunny period in Londonderry.

The protest was opposing the system of imprisonment without charges – detaining individuals without legal proceedings – which had been implemented following multiple years of unrest.

Military personnel from the Parachute Regiment fatally wounded multiple civilians in the neighborhood – which was, and still is, a predominantly Irish nationalist area.

A specific visual became especially prominent.

Images showed a religious figure, Father Daly, using a stained with blood white handkerchief while attempting to shield a assembly moving a teenager, Jackie Duddy, who had been fatally wounded.

Journalists captured considerable film on the day.

Documented accounts contains Father Daly explaining to a journalist that troops "gave the impression they would discharge weapons randomly" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no reason for the discharge of weapons.

This account of what happened wasn't accepted by the first inquiry.

The initial inquiry found the soldiers had been attacked first.

Throughout the negotiation period, the ruling party commissioned a fresh examination, following pressure by bereaved relatives, who said the first investigation had been a whitewash.

During 2010, the report by the investigation said that overall, the paratroopers had discharged weapons initially and that not one of the casualties had presented danger.

At that time head of state, the leader, expressed regret in the government chamber – saying deaths were "unjustified and inexcusable."

The police commenced investigate the incident.

A military veteran, identified as the accused, was charged for homicide.

He was charged over the fatalities of James Wray, in his twenties, and in his mid-twenties the second individual.

The defendant was further implicated of attempting to murder Patrick O'Donnell, other civilians, Joe Mahon, another person, and an unidentified individual.

There is a court ruling protecting the defendant's privacy, which his attorneys have argued is required because he is at threat.

He told the examination that he had solely shot at people who were carrying weapons.

This assertion was disputed in the official findings.

Material from the inquiry was unable to be used directly as proof in the criminal process.

In the dock, the defendant was hidden from public using a protective barrier.

He made statements for the initial occasion in the proceedings at a proceeding in December 2024, to reply "innocent" when the charges were put to him.

Family members of the deceased on that day journeyed from Londonderry to the courthouse every day of the proceedings.

A family member, whose relative was killed, said they were aware that attending the case would be difficult.

"I can see everything in my memory," the relative said, as we visited the main locations mentioned in the trial – from the location, where his brother was shot dead, to the adjoining the courtyard, where James Wray and another victim were died.

"It returns me to my location that day.

"I participated in moving the victim and lay him in the ambulance.

"I experienced again every moment during the testimony.

"Notwithstanding experiencing everything – it's still worthwhile for me."