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January 30th, 1972 is remembered as one of the deadliest – and significant – occasions in multiple decades of unrest in Northern Ireland.

In the streets of the incident – the legacy of Bloody Sunday are visible on the walls and seared in public consciousness.

A protest demonstration was organized on a wintry, sunny day in Derry.

The march was a protest against the practice of imprisonment without charges – holding suspects without due process – which had been implemented after three years of unrest.

Military personnel from the elite army unit killed thirteen individuals in the neighborhood – which was, and continues to be, a overwhelmingly Irish nationalist community.

A particular photograph became notably prominent.

Images showed a clergyman, Father Daly, using a blood-stained cloth while attempting to protect a crowd transporting a teenager, Jackie Duddy, who had been killed.

Media personnel documented considerable film on the day.

Documented accounts includes the priest telling a journalist that soldiers "just seemed to fire in all directions" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no reason for the discharge of weapons.

This account of the incident wasn't accepted by the first inquiry.

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

Throughout the resolution efforts, the administration set up another inquiry, in response to advocacy by surviving kin, who said the first investigation had been a whitewash.

In 2010, the findings by Lord Saville said that generally, the military personnel had discharged weapons initially and that zero among the individuals had presented danger.

At that time government leader, David Cameron, expressed regret in the Parliament – declaring deaths were "unjustified and unjustifiable."

Law enforcement commenced examine the incident.

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

Indictments were filed concerning the killings of James Wray, in his twenties, and in his mid-twenties another victim.

The accused was also accused of trying to kill multiple individuals, additional persons, further individuals, Michael Quinn, and an unknown person.

Exists a legal order preserving the veteran's identity protection, which his legal team have argued is necessary because he is at threat.

He told the Saville Inquiry that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at individuals who were carrying weapons.

That claim was rejected in the final report.

Evidence from the investigation could not be used immediately as testimony in the court case.

During the trial, the accused was shielded from sight with a privacy screen.

He addressed the court for the initial occasion in the proceedings at a session in December 2024, to reply "not responsible" when the charges were read.

Family members of those who were killed on that day made the trip from Londonderry to Belfast Crown Court each day of the case.

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

"I remember everything in my recollection," John said, as we walked around the primary sites referenced in the proceedings – from Rossville Street, where his brother was killed, to the adjacent Glenfada Park, where James Wray and the second person were died.

"It even takes me back to where I was that day.

"I participated in moving Michael and place him in the vehicle.

"I went through every moment during the proceedings.

"Despite having to go through all that – it's still valuable for me."