🔗 Share this article

January 30th, 1972 is remembered as among the most fatal – and momentous – days throughout three decades of violence in this area.

In the streets where events unfolded – the images of that fateful day are displayed on the structures and seared in people's minds.

A civil rights march was organized on a wintry, sunny day in Derry.

The demonstration was challenging the policy of imprisonment without charges – imprisoning people without legal proceedings – which had been established after an extended period of unrest.

Troops from the specialized division shot dead thirteen individuals in the district – which was, and remains, a overwhelmingly nationalist area.

A particular photograph became notably iconic.

Pictures showed a religious figure, Fr Edward Daly, displaying a bloodied fabric in his effort to shield a crowd carrying a youth, Jackie Duddy, who had been killed.

News camera operators documented considerable film on the day.

Historical records contains the priest informing a media representative that military personnel "gave the impression they would shoot indiscriminately" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no reason for the shooting.

This account of the incident was disputed by the original examination.

The initial inquiry found the Army had been attacked first.

In the resolution efforts, Tony Blair's government commissioned a fresh examination, in response to advocacy by bereaved relatives, who said the initial inquiry had been a cover-up.

During 2010, the report by Lord Saville said that generally, the paratroopers had initiated shooting and that not one of the victims had been armed.

At that time Prime Minister, the Prime Minister, issued an apology in the government chamber – saying deaths were "improper and inexcusable."

Authorities started to investigate the events.

One former paratrooper, known as the defendant, was prosecuted for murder.

He was charged concerning the fatalities of the first individual, 22, and 26-year-old the second individual.

The accused was also accused of trying to kill multiple individuals, Joseph Friel, more people, another person, and an unknown person.

There is a legal order protecting the soldier's identity protection, which his legal team have claimed is necessary because he is at threat.

He told the examination that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at people who were possessing firearms.

This assertion was rejected in the official findings.

Material from the examination could not be used directly as proof in the criminal process.

In the dock, the veteran was hidden from public using a privacy screen.

He addressed the court for the first time in the proceedings at a hearing in December 2024, to answer "not responsible" when the allegations were read.

Kin of the victims on that day travelled from Derry to the judicial building each day of the case.

A family member, whose relative was died, said they always knew that hearing the case would be emotional.

"I visualize the events in my mind's eye," John said, as we walked around the key areas referenced in the trial – from the street, where his brother was fatally wounded, to the nearby the area, where one victim and the second person were fatally wounded.

"It reminds me to where I was that day.

"I participated in moving my brother and put him in the vehicle.

"I relived the entire event during the testimony.

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