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January 30th, 1972 remains among the most deadly – and significant – days in multiple decades of unrest in the region.

In the streets where events unfolded – the memories of the tragic events are painted on the walls and embedded in people's minds.

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

The march was a protest against the system of imprisonment without charges – detaining individuals without trial – which had been established in response to three years of unrest.

Troops from the Parachute Regiment shot dead multiple civilians in the neighborhood – which was, and still is, a overwhelmingly republican area.

One image became notably iconic.

Photographs showed a clergyman, Fr Edward Daly, using a stained with blood white handkerchief in his effort to defend a group moving a youth, Jackie Duddy, who had been fatally wounded.

Journalists documented much footage on the day.

Historical records contains Father Daly telling a reporter that troops "appeared to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no justification for the discharge of weapons.

That version of events was disputed by the first inquiry.

The Widgery Tribunal concluded the soldiers had been fired upon initially.

During the negotiation period, the administration set up a new investigation, following pressure by family members, who said the first investigation had been a inadequate investigation.

In 2010, the findings by Lord Saville said that overall, the soldiers had discharged weapons initially and that zero among the victims had been armed.

The contemporary Prime Minister, the Prime Minister, expressed regret in the government chamber – saying killings were "without justification and unacceptable."

The police commenced investigate the matter.

A military veteran, known as the accused, was charged for murder.

Accusations were made regarding the deaths of the first individual, 22, and in his mid-twenties another victim.

The accused was additionally charged of seeking to harm multiple individuals, other civilians, further individuals, another person, and an unknown person.

Remains a court ruling maintaining the defendant's identity protection, which his lawyers have claimed is necessary because he is at danger.

He testified the Saville Inquiry that he had only fired at people who were armed.

That claim was rejected in the official findings.

Material from the investigation could not be used immediately as evidence in the court case.

During the trial, the veteran was screened from view behind a privacy screen.

He addressed the court for the first time in the hearing at a proceeding in late 2024, to answer "not responsible" when the accusations were presented.

Relatives of the victims on the incident made the trip from Derry to Belfast Crown Court every day of the case.

John Kelly, whose relative was died, said they were aware that attending the proceedings would be emotional.

"I remember all details in my memory," he said, as we walked around the primary sites discussed in the case – from Rossville Street, where Michael was fatally wounded, to the adjacent Glenfada Park, where one victim and another victim were killed.

"It returns me to where I was that day.

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

"I went through the entire event during the evidence.

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