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Sunday 30 January 1972 is remembered as among the deadliest – and momentous – days during three decades of unrest in the region.

In the streets where events unfolded – the memories of that fateful day are visible on the structures and seared in public consciousness.

A public gathering was held on a chilly yet clear day in Londonderry.

The demonstration was challenging the system of detention without trial – holding suspects without trial – which had been put in place after three years of unrest.

Troops from the specialized division killed 13 people in the neighborhood – which was, and remains, a strongly republican community.

A specific visual became especially memorable.

Images showed a religious figure, Fr Edward Daly, using a stained with blood cloth while attempting to shield a assembly moving a young man, the fatally wounded individual, who had been fatally wounded.

Media personnel recorded considerable film on the day.

Historical records contains Father Daly telling a media representative that soldiers "just seemed to shoot indiscriminately" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no justification for the shooting.

That version of the incident was rejected by the first inquiry.

The initial inquiry found the soldiers had been attacked first.

In the resolution efforts, the administration established a fresh examination, in response to advocacy by family members, who said the first investigation had been a inadequate investigation.

In 2010, the findings by the inquiry said that on balance, the paratroopers had discharged weapons initially and that zero among the casualties had posed any threat.

At that time government leader, the Prime Minister, apologised in the government chamber – stating killings were "unjustified and inexcusable."

Law enforcement started to look into the events.

One former paratrooper, identified as the accused, was prosecuted for murder.

Accusations were made over the killings of one victim, 22, and 26-year-old William McKinney.

The accused was further implicated of attempting to murder several people, other civilians, Joe Mahon, another person, and an unnamed civilian.

Remains a judicial decision preserving the defendant's identity protection, which his legal team have claimed is required because he is at risk of attack.

He testified the investigation that he had solely shot at individuals who were armed.

This assertion was disputed in the official findings.

Information from the investigation was unable to be used straightforwardly as proof in the legal proceedings.

In court, the veteran was hidden from public with a protective barrier.

He made statements for the first time in court at a hearing in late 2024, to respond "not guilty" when the accusations were presented.

Relatives of those who were killed on the incident made the trip from Londonderry to Belfast Crown Court daily of the trial.

John Kelly, whose sibling was fatally wounded, said they understood that attending the case would be difficult.

"I can see all details in my memory," John said, as we walked around the primary sites referenced in the trial – from the location, where his brother was killed, to the adjoining the area, where James Wray and the second person were fatally wounded.

"It returns me to my location that day.

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

"I relived the entire event during the proceedings.

"Despite enduring the process – it's still meaningful for me."