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January 30th, 1972 is remembered as one of the most fatal – and momentous – dates throughout three decades of unrest in the region.

In the streets where it happened – the legacy of that fateful day are painted on the buildings and embedded in public consciousness.

A public gathering was organized on a chilly yet clear day in the city.

The march was opposing the policy of imprisonment without charges – imprisoning people without legal proceedings – which had been established in response to three years of conflict.

Soldiers from the Parachute Regiment killed 13 people in the Bogside area – which was, and continues to be, a strongly Irish nationalist area.

A particular photograph became notably prominent.

Photographs showed a religious figure, Father Daly, waving a blood-stained cloth in his effort to shield a assembly transporting a young man, Jackie Duddy, who had been fatally wounded.

Media personnel documented extensive video on the day.

Documented accounts features Fr Daly informing a reporter that military personnel "gave the impression they would fire in all directions" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no reason for the discharge of weapons.

The narrative of the incident was disputed by the original examination.

The initial inquiry found the Army had been fired upon initially.

In the resolution efforts, the ruling party commissioned another inquiry, after campaigning by surviving kin, who said the initial inquiry had been a cover-up.

That year, the findings by the investigation said that on balance, the military personnel had fired first and that none of the individuals had been armed.

At that time government leader, David Cameron, apologised in the House of Commons – declaring deaths were "unjustified and unacceptable."

Law enforcement started to investigate the incident.

A military veteran, known as the accused, was prosecuted for murder.

Indictments were filed over the killings of James Wray, 22, and twenty-six-year-old another victim.

The accused was further implicated of attempting to murder Patrick O'Donnell, other civilians, Joe Mahon, Michael Quinn, and an unidentified individual.

Exists a legal order protecting the defendant's identity protection, which his legal team have maintained is necessary because he is at danger.

He stated to the investigation that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at people who were armed.

That claim was dismissed in the official findings.

Evidence from the investigation was unable to be used immediately as testimony in the criminal process.

During the trial, the veteran was hidden from public using a blue curtain.

He addressed the court for the opening instance in the hearing at a proceeding in late 2024, to respond "not guilty" when the charges were put to him.

Family members of the victims on that day made the trip from Londonderry to the judicial building daily of the proceedings.

A family member, whose sibling was killed, said they were aware that hearing the trial would be difficult.

"I visualize all details in my recollection," he said, as we walked around the primary sites referenced in the case – from the street, where Michael was fatally wounded, to the nearby the courtyard, where one victim and the second person were fatally wounded.

"It reminds me to my position that day.

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

"I relived the entire event during the proceedings.

"Notwithstanding having to go through everything – it's still valuable for me."