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Sunday 30 January 1972 stands as arguably the deadliest – and consequential – days in multiple decades of violence in this area.

Throughout the area where it happened – the memories of Bloody Sunday are painted on the buildings and etched in collective memory.

A civil rights march was conducted on a wintry, sunny period in Derry.

The demonstration was a protest against the system of detention without trial – holding suspects without due process – which had been established after three years of conflict.

Military personnel from the Parachute Regiment shot dead thirteen individuals in the Bogside area – which was, and still is, a overwhelmingly nationalist area.

A particular photograph became particularly memorable.

Images showed a Catholic priest, Fr Edward Daly, using a bloodied cloth as he tried to defend a group transporting a young man, Jackie Duddy, who had been mortally injured.

News camera operators documented considerable film on the day.

Historical records contains Father Daly informing a journalist that troops "gave the impression they would fire in all directions" and he was "completely sure" that there was no provocation for the gunfire.

This account of what happened was rejected by the first inquiry.

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

Throughout the negotiation period, Tony Blair's government set up another inquiry, in response to advocacy by surviving kin, who said Widgery had been a whitewash.

During 2010, the report by the investigation said that generally, the military personnel had initiated shooting and that not one of the victims had presented danger.

The then head of state, David Cameron, expressed regret in the Parliament – saying deaths were "unjustified and unjustifiable."

Authorities commenced look into the incident.

One former paratrooper, referred to as the accused, was prosecuted for homicide.

Accusations were made over the deaths of James Wray, twenty-two, and in his mid-twenties William McKinney.

The defendant was further implicated of seeking to harm Patrick O'Donnell, additional persons, further individuals, Michael Quinn, and an unnamed civilian.

There is a judicial decision protecting the defendant's anonymity, which his attorneys have claimed is required because he is at threat.

He told the examination that he had solely shot at people who were possessing firearms.

This assertion was rejected in the official findings.

Evidence from the investigation was unable to be used straightforwardly as testimony in the court case.

In the dock, the defendant was shielded from sight behind a protective barrier.

He spoke for the initial occasion in the hearing at a hearing in late 2024, to answer "not guilty" when the allegations were read.

Family members of the victims on that day travelled from Derry to the courthouse daily of the proceedings.

John Kelly, whose brother Michael was fatally wounded, said they understood that listening to the case would be emotional.

"I visualize all details in my memory," John said, as we visited the key areas discussed in the case – from the location, where his brother was killed, to the nearby Glenfada Park, where the individual and another victim were died.

"It reminds me to my position that day.

"I participated in moving my brother and place him in the medical transport.

"I went through each detail during the testimony.

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