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January 30th, 1972 remains one of the most deadly – and consequential – dates in three decades of violence in Northern Ireland.

Within the community of the incident – the memories of that fateful day are visible on the structures and seared in people's minds.

A civil rights march was conducted on a wintry, sunny period in Londonderry.

The demonstration was a protest against the policy of imprisonment without charges – holding suspects without due process – which had been established following an extended period of conflict.

Troops from the specialized division fatally wounded thirteen individuals in the Bogside area – which was, and remains, a overwhelmingly Irish nationalist community.

One image became particularly memorable.

Pictures showed a Catholic priest, Fr Edward Daly, displaying a bloodied white handkerchief as he tried to protect a group moving a youth, the injured teenager, who had been fatally wounded.

Journalists captured considerable film on the day.

Historical records features Father Daly informing a reporter that soldiers "appeared to fire in all directions" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no provocation for the gunfire.

This account of the incident was disputed by the initial investigation.

The initial inquiry determined the Army had been shot at first.

Throughout the resolution efforts, Tony Blair's government set up another inquiry, after campaigning by bereaved relatives, who said the initial inquiry had been a whitewash.

In 2010, the report by the inquiry said that on balance, the military personnel had initiated shooting and that not one of the individuals had posed any threat.

The contemporary head of state, the Prime Minister, issued an apology in the House of Commons – stating fatalities were "unjustified and unacceptable."

Law enforcement began to look into the incident.

One former paratrooper, known as the accused, was charged for murder.

Indictments were filed over the fatalities of James Wray, twenty-two, and twenty-six-year-old another victim.

Soldier F was additionally charged of seeking to harm Patrick O'Donnell, additional persons, further individuals, another person, and an unnamed civilian.

Exists a judicial decision maintaining the soldier's anonymity, which his lawyers have maintained is essential because he is at risk of attack.

He told the investigation that he had only fired at individuals who were carrying weapons.

This assertion was disputed in the concluding document.

Evidence from the examination would not be used directly as proof in the criminal process.

In the dock, the veteran was screened from view with a privacy screen.

He spoke for the first time in court at a hearing in December 2024, to respond "not responsible" when the allegations were presented.

Family members of the victims on Bloody Sunday travelled from the city to Belfast Crown Court every day of the proceedings.

John Kelly, whose brother Michael was killed, said they were aware that hearing the proceedings would be painful.

"I visualize the events in my memory," he said, as we walked around the primary sites referenced in the proceedings – from the street, where the victim was fatally wounded, to the adjacent the courtyard, where the individual and the second person were fatally wounded.

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

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

"I relived each detail during the evidence.

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