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Sunday 30 January 1972 stands as among the deadliest – and consequential – occasions throughout three decades of conflict in the region.

Throughout the area where it happened – the legacy of that fateful day are visible on the walls and etched in public consciousness.

A protest demonstration was conducted on a wintry, sunny afternoon in Derry.

The march was a protest against the system of internment – detaining individuals without due process – which had been implemented in response to an extended period of violence.

Soldiers from the Parachute Regiment killed multiple civilians in the neighborhood – which was, and still is, a predominantly republican population.

A specific visual became particularly iconic.

Pictures showed a Catholic priest, Father Daly, displaying a bloodied white handkerchief in his effort to protect a crowd transporting a youth, Jackie Duddy, who had been fatally wounded.

News camera operators recorded much footage on the day.

The archive contains the priest explaining to a journalist that troops "just seemed to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "completely sure" that there was no provocation for the shooting.

The narrative of events was rejected by the initial investigation.

The initial inquiry determined the Army had been attacked first.

In the negotiation period, the ruling party set up another inquiry, after campaigning by surviving kin, who said Widgery had been a inadequate investigation.

During 2010, the conclusion by the investigation said that overall, the paratroopers had fired first and that not one of the individuals had posed any threat.

At that time head of state, David Cameron, expressed regret in the House of Commons – saying killings were "improper and inexcusable."

The police started to investigate the incident.

One former paratrooper, identified as the defendant, was charged for killing.

Accusations were made regarding the killings of the first individual, 22, and 26-year-old another victim.

The defendant was also accused of trying to kill multiple individuals, other civilians, more people, an additional individual, and an unnamed civilian.

Exists a judicial decision maintaining the soldier's identity protection, which his attorneys have claimed is essential because he is at threat.

He stated to the investigation that he had solely shot at people who were carrying weapons.

This assertion was disputed in the concluding document.

Material from the investigation would not be used straightforwardly as proof in the court case.

In the dock, the accused was shielded from sight using a blue curtain.

He addressed the court for the opening instance in the proceedings at a hearing in December 2024, to answer "not responsible" when the charges were read.

Family members of the deceased on the incident made the trip from Derry to the courthouse every day of the proceedings.

John Kelly, whose relative was killed, said they always knew that hearing the case would be difficult.

"I visualize all details in my mind's eye," he said, as we examined the main locations referenced in the case – from Rossville Street, where Michael was fatally wounded, to the adjoining Glenfada Park, where the individual and William McKinney were killed.

"It returns me to my position that day.

"I assisted with the victim and lay him in the vehicle.

"I went through every moment during the testimony.

"Despite experiencing all that – it's still meaningful for me."