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January 30th, 1972 stands as arguably the most fatal – and momentous – days in three decades of violence in the region.

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

A protest demonstration was conducted on a wintry, sunny period in the city.

The demonstration was challenging the practice of imprisonment without charges – imprisoning people without due process – which had been put in place in response to three years of conflict.

Troops from the Parachute Regiment killed multiple civilians in the district – which was, and remains, a overwhelmingly Irish nationalist area.

One image became notably memorable.

Pictures showed a clergyman, Fr Edward Daly, displaying a bloodied white handkerchief as he tried to protect a crowd transporting a teenager, the injured teenager, who had been killed.

Journalists captured extensive video on the day.

Historical records includes the priest informing a reporter that military personnel "gave the impression they would fire in all directions" and he was "completely sure" that there was no provocation for the gunfire.

That version of events wasn't accepted by the first inquiry.

The initial inquiry determined the Army had been attacked first.

In the peace process, the administration established a fresh examination, after campaigning by surviving kin, who said the first investigation had been a cover-up.

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

The contemporary head of state, the leader, expressed regret in the House of Commons – saying deaths were "unjustified and inexcusable."

Law enforcement started to investigate the events.

An ex-soldier, identified as the accused, was charged for killing.

Accusations were made concerning the killings of one victim, in his twenties, and in his mid-twenties another victim.

Soldier F was also accused of trying to kill multiple individuals, additional persons, more people, another person, and an unidentified individual.

There is a legal order protecting the defendant's privacy, which his attorneys have maintained is required because he is at threat.

He testified the investigation that he had solely shot at persons who were possessing firearms.

That claim was dismissed in the official findings.

Evidence from the examination would not be used immediately as proof in the criminal process.

In court, the veteran was shielded from sight using a blue curtain.

He spoke for the first time in the hearing at a proceeding in late 2024, to reply "not guilty" when the charges were put to him.

Relatives of the deceased on the incident made the trip from the city to the judicial building every day of the proceedings.

John Kelly, whose relative was died, said they understood that listening to the trial would be emotional.

"I visualize all details in my memory," the relative said, as we visited the primary sites referenced in the trial – from the street, where Michael was shot dead, to the nearby the area, where one victim and William McKinney were died.

"It reminds me to my position that day.

"I assisted with Michael and lay him in the medical transport.

"I experienced again the entire event during the proceedings.

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