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January 30th, 1972 stands as one of the most deadly – and significant – days throughout multiple decades of unrest in this area.

In the streets where it happened – the memories of the tragic events are painted on the structures and embedded in collective memory.

A protest demonstration was held on a cold but bright period in Londonderry.

The demonstration was opposing the system of internment – imprisoning people without legal proceedings – which had been put in place in response to three years of unrest.

Soldiers from the elite army unit fatally wounded thirteen individuals in the Bogside area – which was, and remains, a predominantly nationalist population.

One image became particularly memorable.

Images showed a clergyman, Father Daly, displaying a blood-stained cloth in his effort to protect a assembly transporting a teenager, the fatally wounded individual, who had been mortally injured.

News camera operators recorded extensive video on the day.

Historical records features Father Daly telling a media representative that military personnel "just seemed to fire in all directions" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no justification for the discharge of weapons.

This account of events was disputed by the first inquiry.

The first investigation determined the soldiers had been attacked first.

During the resolution efforts, the administration established a fresh examination, in response to advocacy by surviving kin, who said Widgery had been a cover-up.

That year, the report by the investigation said that generally, the soldiers had fired first and that none of the victims had posed any threat.

At that time government leader, the Prime Minister, apologised in the Parliament – declaring deaths were "improper and unjustifiable."

Law enforcement started to investigate the incident.

An ex-soldier, referred to as the defendant, was prosecuted for homicide.

Accusations were made over the deaths of the first individual, in his twenties, and 26-year-old another victim.

The accused was also accused of attempting to murder several people, additional persons, Joe Mahon, an additional individual, and an unknown person.

There is a legal order maintaining the veteran's privacy, which his lawyers have argued is necessary because he is at danger.

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

This assertion was rejected in the official findings.

Information from the examination could not be used directly as proof in the legal proceedings.

In the dock, the veteran was screened from view behind a blue curtain.

He spoke for the first time in the proceedings at a proceeding in December 2024, to answer "innocent" when the charges were read.

Relatives of the deceased on Bloody Sunday journeyed from Derry to Belfast Crown Court each day of the case.

A family member, whose brother Michael was fatally wounded, said they understood that attending the trial would be difficult.

"I remember the events in my mind's eye," he said, as we walked around the key areas mentioned in the case – from Rossville Street, where Michael was shot dead, to the adjacent the area, where one victim and another victim were died.

"It returns me to my position that day.

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

"I experienced again each detail during the evidence.

"But even with experiencing all that – it's still valuable for me."