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January 30th, 1972 stands as one of the deadliest – and momentous – dates throughout thirty years of unrest in this area.

In the streets of the incident – the images of Bloody Sunday are painted on the walls and etched in people's minds.

A public gathering was conducted on a cold but bright period in the city.

The demonstration was opposing the policy of detention without trial – imprisoning people without legal proceedings – which had been implemented after multiple years of unrest.

Military personnel from the specialized division killed multiple civilians in the neighborhood – which was, and remains, a predominantly nationalist community.

One image became notably iconic.

Pictures showed a clergyman, Fr Edward Daly, displaying a stained with blood fabric while attempting to protect a assembly carrying a young man, the fatally wounded individual, who had been mortally injured.

Journalists documented much footage on the day.

Documented accounts features Father Daly telling a reporter that soldiers "appeared to shoot indiscriminately" and he was "completely sure" that there was no justification for the gunfire.

That version of the incident wasn't accepted by the initial investigation.

The initial inquiry determined the Army had been shot at first.

Throughout the peace process, Tony Blair's government commissioned a fresh examination, after campaigning by family members, who said the first investigation had been a cover-up.

In 2010, the conclusion by the inquiry said that overall, the paratroopers had fired first and that zero among the casualties had posed any threat.

The then head of state, David Cameron, issued an apology in the House of Commons – declaring killings were "improper and unacceptable."

Authorities commenced examine the events.

An ex-soldier, identified as the defendant, was charged for homicide.

He was charged concerning the deaths of James Wray, twenty-two, and twenty-six-year-old William McKinney.

The defendant was also accused of seeking to harm Patrick O'Donnell, additional persons, more people, another person, and an unidentified individual.

Remains a judicial decision preserving the defendant's identity protection, which his lawyers have claimed is required because he is at threat.

He testified the investigation that he had solely shot at individuals who were carrying weapons.

The statement was dismissed in the official findings.

Information from the examination would not be used immediately as evidence in the legal proceedings.

In the dock, the defendant was hidden from public behind a protective barrier.

He spoke for the first time in the proceedings at a hearing in late 2024, to answer "not responsible" when the charges were read.

Kin of the victims on that day travelled from the city to Belfast Crown Court each day of the proceedings.

John Kelly, whose relative was fatally wounded, said they understood that hearing the case would be emotional.

"I can see the events in my recollection," John said, as we walked around the key areas mentioned in the case – from the location, where his brother was killed, to the nearby the area, where the individual and William McKinney were killed.

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

"I helped to carry my brother and place him in the ambulance.

"I experienced again every moment during the testimony.

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