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January 30th, 1972 stands as among the most deadly – and momentous – occasions throughout three decades of unrest in this area.

Within the community where events unfolded – the legacy of Bloody Sunday are visible on the walls and etched in collective memory.

A public gathering was held on a wintry, sunny day in the city.

The protest was a protest against the system of internment – imprisoning people without trial – which had been established following multiple years of conflict.

Troops from the specialized division shot dead thirteen individuals in the district – which was, and continues to be, a overwhelmingly republican population.

One image became notably memorable.

Photographs showed a Catholic priest, Fr Edward Daly, waving a blood-stained fabric as he tried to defend a crowd carrying a youth, the injured teenager, who had been killed.

Media personnel captured extensive video on the day.

The archive contains the priest telling a journalist that troops "gave the impression they would fire in all directions" and he was "completely sure" that there was no justification for the shooting.

That version of the incident wasn't accepted by the initial investigation.

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

During the negotiation period, the ruling party commissioned another inquiry, after campaigning by surviving kin, who said the initial inquiry had been a whitewash.

In 2010, the conclusion by the investigation said that on balance, the military personnel had discharged weapons initially and that not one of the victims had been armed.

At that time head of state, the leader, apologised in the House of Commons – declaring fatalities were "without justification and unacceptable."

Law enforcement began to look into the incident.

One former paratrooper, identified as the defendant, was brought to trial for killing.

He was charged concerning the killings of James Wray, in his twenties, and 26-year-old the second individual.

The accused was additionally charged of attempting to murder several people, additional persons, more people, an additional individual, and an unidentified individual.

There is a court ruling preserving the soldier's identity protection, which his legal team have claimed is essential because he is at threat.

He told the examination that he had solely shot at individuals who were possessing firearms.

This assertion was disputed in the final report.

Material from the examination could not be used immediately as testimony in the criminal process.

During the trial, the veteran was hidden from public behind a protective barrier.

He made statements for the opening instance in court at a hearing in late 2024, to respond "innocent" when the charges were presented.

Family members of those who were killed on that day travelled from Londonderry to the courthouse each day of the trial.

One relative, whose relative was fatally wounded, said they were aware that listening to the trial would be painful.

"I visualize the events in my recollection," John said, as we walked around the primary sites discussed in the case – from the street, where his brother was shot dead, to the nearby the area, where James Wray and the second person were fatally wounded.

"It reminds me to where I was that day.

"I assisted with the victim and lay him in the vehicle.

"I went through every moment during the evidence.

"But even with enduring the process – it's still worthwhile for me."