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January 30th, 1972 remains arguably the most fatal – and momentous – occasions in thirty years of violence in Northern Ireland.

In the streets where it happened – the legacy of Bloody Sunday are painted on the walls and etched in collective memory.

A civil rights march was organized on a cold but bright afternoon in the city.

The demonstration was opposing the policy of internment – detaining individuals without trial – which had been put in place following multiple years of violence.

Troops from the elite army unit fatally wounded thirteen individuals in the Bogside area – which was, and continues to be, a overwhelmingly Irish nationalist population.

One image became especially iconic.

Images showed a Catholic priest, Fr Edward Daly, waving a bloodied white handkerchief in his effort to protect a crowd moving a youth, the fatally wounded individual, who had been mortally injured.

Journalists recorded considerable film on the day.

The archive contains the priest explaining to a media representative that troops "gave the impression they would fire in all directions" and he was "completely sure" that there was no provocation for the gunfire.

The narrative of the incident wasn't accepted by the original examination.

The Widgery Tribunal found the Army had been attacked first.

During the negotiation period, the ruling party established a new investigation, in response to advocacy by surviving kin, who said the initial inquiry had been a inadequate investigation.

That year, the findings by Lord Saville said that overall, the paratroopers had fired first and that none of the victims had presented danger.

The contemporary government leader, the Prime Minister, issued an apology in the government chamber – saying fatalities were "unjustified and unjustifiable."

Law enforcement began to look into the matter.

An ex-soldier, identified as Soldier F, was prosecuted for homicide.

Accusations were made regarding the killings of the first individual, twenty-two, and in his mid-twenties another victim.

The defendant was further implicated of seeking to harm several people, other civilians, Joe Mahon, Michael Quinn, and an unnamed civilian.

Remains a court ruling preserving the soldier's privacy, which his lawyers have claimed is essential because he is at threat.

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

This assertion was dismissed in the concluding document.

Information from the investigation would not be used straightforwardly as evidence in the criminal process.

During the trial, the accused was screened from view with a privacy screen.

He addressed the court for the first time in court at a hearing in late 2024, to respond "not responsible" when the charges were read.

Family members of the deceased on that day travelled from the city to the courthouse every day of the case.

John Kelly, whose brother Michael was died, said they were aware that listening to the trial would be emotional.

"I remember all details in my memory," John said, as we visited the primary sites referenced in the proceedings – from the street, where his brother was killed, to the nearby Glenfada Park, where one victim and another victim were fatally wounded.

"It even takes me back to my location that day.

"I helped to carry the victim and place him in the medical transport.

"I relived each detail during the testimony.

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