🔗 Share this article

Sunday 30 January 1972 stands as among the most deadly – and momentous – days throughout three decades of conflict in the region.

Throughout the area where events unfolded – the images of the tragic events are visible on the structures and etched in collective memory.

A public gathering was held on a chilly yet clear day in the city.

The march was a protest against the system of internment – detaining individuals without legal proceedings – which had been established after an extended period of violence.

Military personnel from the elite army unit killed thirteen individuals in the district – which was, and remains, a overwhelmingly Irish nationalist population.

A specific visual became particularly memorable.

Images showed a Catholic priest, Fr Edward Daly, displaying a blood-stained cloth while attempting to shield a group transporting a youth, the injured teenager, who had been fatally wounded.

Media personnel documented extensive video on the day.

The archive contains Fr Daly telling a journalist that troops "gave the impression they would shoot indiscriminately" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no justification for the discharge of weapons.

That version of what happened wasn't accepted by the first inquiry.

The initial inquiry determined the soldiers had been attacked first.

In the negotiation period, the administration established another inquiry, after campaigning by family members, who said Widgery had been a whitewash.

During 2010, the conclusion by Lord Saville said that overall, the soldiers had initiated shooting and that zero among the individuals had been armed.

The then government leader, the leader, expressed regret in the Parliament – saying deaths were "unjustified and unacceptable."

Authorities began to investigate the events.

An ex-soldier, known as the accused, was charged for murder.

Accusations were made concerning the fatalities of James Wray, twenty-two, and 26-year-old another victim.

Soldier F was additionally charged of trying to kill Patrick O'Donnell, other civilians, Joe Mahon, an additional individual, and an unidentified individual.

There is a court ruling preserving the defendant's identity protection, which his lawyers have argued is essential because he is at risk of attack.

He stated to the examination that he had solely shot at persons who were armed.

The statement was dismissed in the concluding document.

Evidence from the examination was unable to be used directly as testimony in the criminal process.

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

He addressed the court for the opening instance in the hearing at a session in December 2024, to reply "not guilty" when the accusations were put to him.

Relatives of those who were killed on Bloody Sunday made the trip from Londonderry to Belfast Crown Court each day of the trial.

John Kelly, whose relative was killed, said they always knew that listening to the trial would be difficult.

"I can see the events in my recollection," John said, as we examined the main locations discussed in the trial – from the location, where the victim was killed, to the adjoining the area, where one victim and the second person were fatally wounded.

"It even takes me back to my position that day.

"I assisted with Michael and put him in the medical transport.

"I relived each detail during the proceedings.

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