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January 30th, 1972 is remembered as arguably the most deadly – and momentous – occasions throughout multiple decades of unrest in the region.

Throughout the area where it happened – the images of that fateful day are visible on the walls and seared in people's minds.

A public gathering was held on a wintry, sunny period in Derry.

The demonstration was a protest against the policy of imprisonment without charges – imprisoning people without trial – which had been put in place after an extended period of unrest.

Military personnel from the specialized division fatally wounded multiple civilians in the Bogside area – which was, and continues to be, a overwhelmingly republican area.

One image became particularly iconic.

Photographs showed a clergyman, Fr Edward Daly, waving a stained with blood fabric as he tried to defend a group transporting a teenager, the injured teenager, who had been fatally wounded.

News camera operators captured considerable film on the day.

Documented accounts includes Fr Daly informing a reporter that troops "gave the impression they would fire in all directions" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no justification for the gunfire.

That version of events was rejected by the first inquiry.

The initial inquiry determined the military had been fired upon initially.

In the peace process, the administration established a fresh examination, following pressure by surviving kin, who said Widgery had been a whitewash.

During 2010, the report by Lord Saville said that on balance, the paratroopers had discharged weapons initially and that not one of the individuals had been armed.

At that time government leader, the leader, expressed regret in the Parliament – stating killings were "without justification and unjustifiable."

The police started to investigate the incident.

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

He was charged over the killings of the first individual, 22, and 26-year-old William McKinney.

The accused was also accused of seeking to harm several people, additional persons, Joe Mahon, an additional individual, and an unknown person.

Exists a judicial decision preserving the defendant's identity protection, which his legal team have maintained is essential because he is at threat.

He stated to the investigation that he had only fired at persons who were carrying weapons.

The statement was dismissed in the final report.

Material from the investigation could not be used directly as testimony in the legal proceedings.

During the trial, the accused was shielded from sight behind a protective barrier.

He made statements for the first time in the hearing at a hearing in late 2024, to answer "innocent" when the charges were presented.

Family members of the deceased on the incident travelled from Derry to Belfast Crown Court daily of the trial.

One relative, whose brother Michael was killed, said they understood that listening to the trial would be painful.

"I can see the events in my memory," John said, as we walked around the primary sites referenced in the trial – from the location, where his brother was shot dead, to the adjoining the courtyard, where one victim and William McKinney were died.

"It returns me to where I was that day.

"I helped to carry my brother and put him in the vehicle.

"I went through each detail during the testimony.

"Despite having to go through everything – it's still meaningful for me."