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Sunday 30 January 1972 remains arguably the most fatal – and consequential – days during thirty years of unrest in the region.

In the streets where it happened – the memories of that fateful day are displayed on the walls and seared in people's minds.

A civil rights march was conducted on a chilly yet clear day in Londonderry.

The demonstration was opposing the policy of internment – detaining individuals without due process – which had been put in place in response to three years of violence.

Troops from the specialized division killed multiple civilians in the district – which was, and continues to be, a predominantly republican area.

A particular photograph became especially memorable.

Photographs showed a religious figure, Fr Edward Daly, waving a blood-stained cloth while attempting to shield a assembly moving a youth, Jackie Duddy, who had been fatally wounded.

Journalists recorded much footage on the day.

Documented accounts features the priest informing a media representative that soldiers "just seemed to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "completely sure" that there was no provocation for the discharge of weapons.

The narrative of what happened was rejected by the first inquiry.

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

Throughout the resolution efforts, Tony Blair's government established a new investigation, in response to advocacy by family members, who said the first investigation had been a inadequate investigation.

In 2010, the report by the investigation said that overall, the military personnel had discharged weapons initially and that none of the casualties had been armed.

The contemporary government leader, David Cameron, apologised in the House of Commons – saying fatalities were "unjustified and unacceptable."

Law enforcement started to examine the events.

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

Indictments were filed over the killings of one victim, twenty-two, and in his mid-twenties another victim.

The accused was additionally charged of attempting to murder several people, Joseph Friel, more people, another person, and an unknown person.

There is a judicial decision preserving the veteran's anonymity, which his legal team have maintained is necessary because he is at threat.

He testified the Saville Inquiry that he had solely shot at people who were armed.

This assertion was rejected in the concluding document.

Material from the examination was unable to be used straightforwardly as proof in the court case.

In the dock, 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 December 2024, to respond "not guilty" when the allegations were put to him.

Kin of those who were killed on that day travelled from Londonderry to the judicial building each day of the case.

A family member, whose relative was killed, said they understood that hearing the trial would be painful.

"I can see everything in my recollection," he said, as we visited the primary sites referenced in the case – from Rossville Street, where Michael was killed, to the adjoining the courtyard, where one victim and William McKinney were fatally wounded.

"It returns me to my location that day.

"I participated in moving the victim and lay him in the medical transport.

"I relived each detail during the proceedings.

"Despite experiencing everything – it's still worthwhile for me."