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January 30th, 1972 stands as arguably the deadliest – and momentous – days throughout thirty years of violence in the region.

Within the community where events unfolded – the memories of the tragic events are displayed on the walls and etched in people's minds.

A public gathering was conducted on a wintry, sunny period in Derry.

The march was opposing the policy of imprisonment without charges – imprisoning people without due process – which had been put in place in response to three years of violence.

Soldiers from the elite army unit killed multiple civilians in the district – which was, and still is, a predominantly nationalist population.

A specific visual became notably prominent.

Images showed a clergyman, the priest, using a bloodied cloth while attempting to defend a assembly transporting a teenager, the fatally wounded individual, who had been fatally wounded.

Journalists captured extensive video on the day.

Documented accounts contains the priest explaining to a reporter that soldiers "gave the impression they would shoot indiscriminately" and he was "completely sure" that there was no reason for the gunfire.

This account of events was rejected by the initial investigation.

The initial inquiry concluded the military had been shot at first.

Throughout the peace process, the ruling party established another inquiry, after campaigning by family members, who said Widgery had been a whitewash.

During 2010, the report by Lord Saville said that overall, the soldiers had fired first and that not one of the casualties had been armed.

The then head of state, the Prime Minister, issued an apology in the House of Commons – stating deaths were "improper and unjustifiable."

Authorities commenced examine the matter.

One former paratrooper, identified as the accused, was brought to trial for homicide.

Indictments were filed over the fatalities of James Wray, twenty-two, and twenty-six-year-old another victim.

The defendant was also accused of seeking to harm Patrick O'Donnell, other civilians, more people, another person, and an unknown person.

Exists a judicial decision maintaining the defendant's privacy, which his attorneys have argued is necessary because he is at threat.

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

This assertion was dismissed in the final report.

Material from the inquiry was unable to be used immediately as proof in the criminal process.

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

He addressed the court for the initial occasion in court at a hearing in late 2024, to reply "not responsible" when the allegations were put to him.

Relatives of the victims on that day journeyed from the city to Belfast Crown Court each day of the trial.

John Kelly, whose relative was fatally wounded, said they were aware that attending the trial would be emotional.

"I visualize everything in my memory," he said, as we visited the main locations discussed in the case – from the location, where the victim was shot dead, to the nearby Glenfada Park, where the individual and William McKinney were died.

"It even takes me back to my position that day.

"I helped to carry Michael and put him in the ambulance.

"I went through each detail during the evidence.

"But even with having to go through all that – it's still valuable for me."