🔗 Share this article

January 30th, 1972 remains one of the most deadly – and significant – dates during multiple decades of unrest in this area.

Within the community of the incident – the images of Bloody Sunday are visible on the buildings and etched in people's minds.

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

The march was opposing the practice of imprisonment without charges – imprisoning people without trial – which had been put in place after three years of unrest.

Soldiers from the elite army unit shot dead 13 people in the district – which was, and continues to be, a strongly nationalist population.

One image became especially prominent.

Photographs showed a religious figure, Father Daly, using a bloodied fabric in his effort to protect a assembly transporting a young man, the injured teenager, who had been fatally wounded.

News camera operators documented considerable film on the day.

Historical records includes Father Daly informing a reporter that troops "just seemed to fire in all directions" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no reason for the gunfire.

The narrative of events wasn't accepted by the original examination.

The first investigation determined the military had been attacked first.

During the peace process, the administration commissioned another inquiry, in response to advocacy by family members, who said Widgery had been a whitewash.

During 2010, the report by the inquiry said that on balance, the soldiers had fired first and that not one of the individuals had been armed.

At that time Prime Minister, the Prime Minister, issued an apology in the government chamber – saying deaths were "without justification and inexcusable."

Law enforcement began to investigate the events.

An ex-soldier, identified as the defendant, was prosecuted for murder.

Accusations were made over the deaths of one victim, twenty-two, and 26-year-old William McKinney.

Soldier F was additionally charged of trying to kill several people, Joseph Friel, more people, an additional individual, and an unknown person.

There is a court ruling preserving the veteran's anonymity, which his lawyers have claimed is essential because he is at danger.

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

This assertion was rejected in the official findings.

Material from the inquiry was unable to be used directly as proof in the court case.

In the dock, the defendant was shielded from sight behind a privacy screen.

He addressed the court for the first time in the proceedings at a proceeding in December 2024, to answer "innocent" when the allegations were put to him.

Kin of the deceased on Bloody Sunday made the trip from Derry to Belfast Crown Court daily of the case.

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

"I remember everything in my recollection," the relative said, as we visited the main locations referenced in the case – from Rossville Street, where the victim was killed, to the adjoining the courtyard, where James Wray and another victim were died.

"It reminds me to my location that day.

"I assisted with my brother and place him in the vehicle.

"I experienced again each detail during the proceedings.

"Despite enduring everything – it's still meaningful for me."