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January 30th, 1972 stands as arguably the most deadly – and consequential – dates during thirty years of unrest in Northern Ireland.

Within the community where events unfolded – the legacy of the tragic events are painted on the structures and seared in collective memory.

A protest demonstration was held on a chilly yet clear afternoon in the city.

The demonstration was challenging the system of detention without trial – detaining individuals without due process – which had been put in place after multiple years of violence.

Troops from the Parachute Regiment killed multiple civilians in the district – which was, and continues to be, a overwhelmingly Irish nationalist population.

One image became particularly memorable.

Pictures showed a Catholic priest, Fr Edward Daly, waving a blood-stained white handkerchief in his effort to shield a group carrying a young man, the injured teenager, who had been mortally injured.

Journalists recorded considerable film on the day.

The archive features the priest explaining to a reporter that military personnel "gave the impression they would shoot indiscriminately" and he was "completely sure" that there was no reason for the shooting.

The narrative of events wasn't accepted by the initial investigation.

The Widgery Tribunal found the military had been attacked first.

During the resolution efforts, the ruling party established another inquiry, after campaigning by bereaved relatives, who said Widgery had been a inadequate investigation.

During 2010, the conclusion by Lord Saville said that on balance, the paratroopers had initiated shooting and that zero among the victims had posed any threat.

At that time government leader, the Prime Minister, issued an apology in the government chamber – declaring deaths were "unjustified and unacceptable."

Law enforcement started to investigate the incident.

One former paratrooper, known as the defendant, was prosecuted for murder.

Indictments were filed over the fatalities of the first individual, in his twenties, and twenty-six-year-old William McKinney.

The defendant was further implicated of trying to kill Patrick O'Donnell, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon, another person, and an unnamed civilian.

Remains a court ruling preserving the defendant's anonymity, which his lawyers have claimed is required because he is at danger.

He told the examination that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at people who were possessing firearms.

That claim was disputed in the final report.

Information from the inquiry would not be used directly as testimony in the court case.

During the trial, the veteran was shielded from sight using a privacy screen.

He made statements for the initial occasion in the hearing at a proceeding in December 2024, to answer "not responsible" when the allegations were read.

Family members of the deceased on that day made the trip from Derry to the courthouse each day of the case.

One relative, whose sibling was fatally wounded, said they understood that attending the proceedings would be emotional.

"I visualize all details in my recollection," the relative said, as we examined the primary sites mentioned in the trial – from the street, where the victim was fatally wounded, to the nearby Glenfada Park, where James Wray and William McKinney were killed.

"It reminds me to where I was that day.

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

"I experienced again the entire event during the evidence.

"Despite having to go through everything – it's still meaningful for me."