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Sunday 30 January 1972 is remembered as one of the deadliest – and consequential – days during multiple decades of conflict in Northern Ireland.

Within the community of the incident – the memories of the tragic events are painted on the structures and etched in people's minds.

A public gathering was organized on a cold but bright period in Derry.

The march was challenging the system of imprisonment without charges – imprisoning people without due process – which had been established after three years of violence.

Troops from the elite army unit fatally wounded multiple civilians in the Bogside area – which was, and remains, a predominantly Irish nationalist population.

A specific visual became especially prominent.

Pictures showed a clergyman, Fr Edward Daly, displaying a blood-stained cloth in his effort to protect a group moving a young man, the injured teenager, who had been mortally injured.

Media personnel captured extensive video on the day.

Documented accounts includes Fr Daly telling a journalist that soldiers "just seemed to shoot indiscriminately" and he was "completely sure" that there was no reason for the shooting.

This account of events was disputed by the first inquiry.

The first investigation found the soldiers had been attacked first.

Throughout the peace process, the ruling party commissioned a new investigation, following pressure by family members, who said the first investigation had been a whitewash.

During 2010, the findings by the investigation said that generally, the soldiers had initiated shooting and that zero among the victims had presented danger.

The contemporary head of state, David Cameron, apologised in the Parliament – declaring killings were "unjustified and unacceptable."

The police started to examine the incident.

One former paratrooper, identified as the defendant, was brought to trial for homicide.

He was charged over the deaths of one victim, 22, and 26-year-old the second individual.

The accused was further implicated of seeking to harm several people, other civilians, more people, another person, and an unidentified individual.

There is a legal order preserving the veteran's anonymity, which his legal team have claimed is essential because he is at danger.

He told the investigation that he had only fired at persons who were armed.

The statement was rejected in the official findings.

Information from the investigation would not be used directly as proof in the legal proceedings.

In the dock, the defendant was shielded from sight with a blue curtain.

He made statements for the opening instance in the proceedings at a session in late 2024, to respond "not responsible" when the charges were put to him.

Relatives of the victims on that day made the trip from the city to the judicial building daily of the case.

One relative, whose sibling was killed, said they understood that listening to the proceedings would be emotional.

"I can see all details in my memory," the relative said, as we examined the key areas referenced in the trial – from the street, where Michael was killed, to the adjoining the courtyard, where the individual and William McKinney 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.

"Notwithstanding experiencing all that – it's still worthwhile for me."