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January 30th, 1972 stands as arguably the most fatal – and significant – dates during multiple decades of violence in Northern Ireland.

Within the community where events unfolded – the images of the tragic events are visible on the buildings and seared in collective memory.

A civil rights march was conducted on a chilly yet clear period in the city.

The march was opposing the policy of internment – detaining individuals without trial – which had been implemented following multiple years of violence.

Troops from the Parachute Regiment shot dead 13 people in the neighborhood – which was, and continues to be, a overwhelmingly Irish nationalist area.

One image became particularly iconic.

Images showed a clergyman, Fr Edward Daly, waving a bloodied fabric while attempting to shield a group transporting a teenager, the fatally wounded individual, who had been fatally wounded.

News camera operators recorded extensive video on the day.

Documented accounts contains the priest informing a media representative that military personnel "just seemed to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no provocation for the gunfire.

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

The Widgery Tribunal found the military had been fired upon initially.

Throughout the negotiation period, Tony Blair's government set up another inquiry, after campaigning by surviving kin, who said the first investigation had been a whitewash.

During 2010, the conclusion by Lord Saville said that generally, the military personnel had discharged weapons initially and that zero among the victims had posed any threat.

The then Prime Minister, the Prime Minister, expressed regret in the Parliament – stating fatalities were "without justification and unacceptable."

The police commenced investigate the events.

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

He was charged concerning the deaths of the first individual, in his twenties, and twenty-six-year-old the second individual.

The accused was also accused of trying to kill multiple individuals, other civilians, Joe Mahon, an additional individual, and an unknown person.

There is a judicial decision protecting the soldier's anonymity, which his attorneys have argued is essential because he is at threat.

He told the investigation that he had only fired at individuals who were armed.

The statement was disputed in the official findings.

Information from the examination was unable to be used immediately as proof in the court case.

During the trial, the veteran was hidden from public using a blue curtain.

He addressed the court for the initial occasion in the proceedings at a hearing in December 2024, to respond "innocent" when the charges were presented.

Family members of the victims on that day travelled from Londonderry to Belfast Crown Court each day of the proceedings.

One relative, whose relative was fatally wounded, said they always knew that listening to the proceedings would be painful.

"I can see all details in my memory," John said, as we visited the main locations referenced in the trial – from the street, where the victim was killed, to the nearby the courtyard, where the individual and the second person were fatally wounded.

"It reminds me to my location that day.

"I assisted with Michael and place him in the medical transport.

"I went through the entire event during the testimony.

"But even with having to go through everything – it's still worthwhile for me."