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Sunday 30 January 1972 is remembered as among the most fatal – and consequential – dates during three decades of unrest in Northern Ireland.

Within the community where it happened – the memories of that fateful day are painted on the walls and seared in public consciousness.

A protest demonstration was organized on a wintry, sunny period in Londonderry.

The demonstration was challenging the policy of internment – detaining individuals without due process – which had been established after multiple years of conflict.

Military personnel from the elite army unit fatally wounded multiple civilians in the Bogside area – which was, and continues to be, a strongly republican population.

A particular photograph became particularly prominent.

Pictures showed a religious figure, Father Daly, waving a blood-stained fabric while attempting to shield a crowd carrying a young man, the injured teenager, who had been fatally wounded.

Media personnel documented extensive video on the day.

The archive contains Father Daly informing a reporter that troops "appeared to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "completely sure" that there was no reason for the discharge of weapons.

The narrative of the incident was rejected by the original examination.

The initial inquiry concluded the Army had been attacked first.

During the peace process, Tony Blair's government established a fresh examination, in response to advocacy by bereaved relatives, who said the initial inquiry had been a inadequate investigation.

That year, the findings by Lord Saville said that overall, the military personnel had discharged weapons initially and that none of the victims had presented danger.

The contemporary head of state, the leader, issued an apology in the Parliament – declaring deaths were "improper and inexcusable."

The police started to look into the incident.

A military veteran, identified as the defendant, was prosecuted for murder.

Accusations were made regarding the deaths of James Wray, 22, and in his mid-twenties William McKinney.

The defendant was additionally charged of attempting to murder multiple individuals, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon, an additional individual, and an unnamed civilian.

Exists a court ruling preserving the defendant's anonymity, which his legal team have argued is required because he is at risk of attack.

He stated to the examination that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at persons who were carrying weapons.

This assertion was dismissed in the final report.

Evidence from the investigation could not be used directly as proof in the legal proceedings.

In the dock, the veteran was hidden from public behind a blue curtain.

He spoke for the first time in court at a proceeding in December 2024, to reply "not guilty" when the accusations were presented.

Kin of the deceased on Bloody Sunday travelled from Derry to the courthouse each day of the case.

John Kelly, whose brother Michael was killed, said they always knew that listening to the case would be painful.

"I visualize the events in my mind's eye," the relative said, as we visited the primary sites mentioned in the case – from the street, where his brother was shot dead, to the nearby the area, where James Wray and another victim were died.

"It reminds me to where I was that day.

"I participated in moving my brother and lay him in the ambulance.

"I experienced again every moment during the proceedings.

"Notwithstanding having to go through all that – it's still meaningful for me."