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January 30th, 1972 is remembered as arguably the most fatal – and significant – occasions during multiple decades of violence in the region.

Throughout the area where events unfolded – the images of that fateful day are painted on the buildings and embedded in collective memory.

A civil rights march was organized on a wintry, sunny afternoon in the city.

The march was challenging the policy of imprisonment without charges – holding suspects without due process – which had been established in response to three years of conflict.

Military personnel from the Parachute Regiment fatally wounded 13 people in the district – which was, and continues to be, a predominantly Irish nationalist area.

A specific visual became particularly memorable.

Images showed a Catholic priest, the priest, waving a stained with blood cloth in his effort to defend a crowd transporting a young man, the injured teenager, who had been mortally injured.

News camera operators documented extensive video on the day.

The archive contains Father Daly explaining to a reporter that troops "appeared to shoot indiscriminately" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no reason for the discharge of weapons.

The narrative of events was rejected by the initial investigation.

The first investigation found the Army had been attacked first.

In the peace process, the ruling party set up a new investigation, after campaigning by bereaved relatives, who said the first investigation had been a inadequate investigation.

In 2010, the conclusion by the inquiry said that on balance, the military personnel had initiated shooting and that none of the casualties had presented danger.

At that time government leader, the Prime Minister, expressed regret in the House of Commons – saying killings were "unjustified and inexcusable."

Authorities began to investigate the events.

An ex-soldier, identified as the defendant, was brought to trial for killing.

Indictments were filed concerning the deaths of the first individual, in his twenties, and in his mid-twenties another victim.

Soldier F was also accused of trying to kill multiple individuals, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon, Michael Quinn, and an unknown person.

Exists a court ruling maintaining the soldier's identity protection, which his attorneys have argued is required because he is at risk of attack.

He told the investigation that he had only fired at people who were armed.

This assertion was dismissed in the final report.

Evidence from the investigation was unable to be used directly as proof in the court case.

During the trial, the veteran was screened from view behind a blue curtain.

He spoke for the opening instance in court at a hearing in December 2024, to reply "not guilty" when the allegations were presented.

Family members of the victims on the incident made the trip from the city to the courthouse every day of the trial.

One relative, whose relative was killed, said they understood that listening to the case would be difficult.

"I can see all details in my mind's eye," John said, as we visited the main locations mentioned in the case – from the location, where Michael was fatally wounded, to the adjoining the area, where the individual and the second person were fatally wounded.

"It reminds me to my position that day.

"I helped to carry the victim and put him in the medical transport.

"I went through the entire event during the testimony.

"Notwithstanding experiencing all that – it's still valuable for me."