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January 30th, 1972 remains among the deadliest – and consequential – days during three decades of unrest in Northern Ireland.

Throughout the area where it happened – the images of Bloody Sunday are visible on the walls and seared in public consciousness.

A public gathering was conducted on a chilly yet clear period in Londonderry.

The protest was a protest against the practice of detention without trial – detaining individuals without legal proceedings – which had been put in place following three years of violence.

Troops from the Parachute Regiment killed multiple civilians in the district – which was, and remains, a overwhelmingly republican population.

A particular photograph became especially memorable.

Photographs showed a religious figure, Fr Edward Daly, using a stained with blood cloth in his effort to shield a assembly moving a young man, the fatally wounded individual, who had been killed.

Media personnel recorded much footage on the day.

The archive includes the priest explaining to a journalist that troops "appeared to fire in all directions" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no provocation for the gunfire.

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

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

Throughout the negotiation period, the administration established another inquiry, in response to advocacy by surviving kin, who said the first investigation had been a cover-up.

That year, the report by Lord Saville said that generally, the military personnel had discharged weapons initially and that none of the casualties had been armed.

The then government leader, David Cameron, issued an apology in the government chamber – stating deaths were "unjustified and unacceptable."

Law enforcement commenced investigate the matter.

An ex-soldier, identified as Soldier F, was brought to trial for murder.

He was charged over the killings of the first individual, twenty-two, and twenty-six-year-old William McKinney.

The defendant was also accused of attempting to murder several people, Joseph Friel, more people, another person, and an unidentified individual.

Exists a court ruling protecting the soldier's identity protection, which his legal team have claimed is required because he is at risk of attack.

He told the examination that he had only fired at persons who were possessing firearms.

This assertion was disputed in the official findings.

Material from the inquiry was unable to be used straightforwardly as testimony in the criminal process.

In court, the defendant was shielded from sight with a protective barrier.

He addressed the court for the opening instance in the hearing at a session in December 2024, to respond "not guilty" when the accusations were put to him.

Family members of the deceased on that day journeyed from the city to Belfast Crown Court each day of the case.

A family member, whose relative was died, said they understood that attending the case would be difficult.

"I visualize all details in my mind's eye," he said, as we examined the primary sites discussed in the proceedings – from Rossville Street, where Michael was shot dead, to the adjoining the area, where James Wray and William McKinney were fatally wounded.

"It returns me to where I was that day.

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

"I went through each detail during the evidence.

"Despite experiencing the process – it's still worthwhile for me."