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January 30th, 1972 remains arguably the deadliest – and consequential – days during three decades of conflict in Northern Ireland.

In the streets where it happened – the legacy of that fateful day are painted on the buildings and embedded in people's minds.

A protest demonstration was held on a cold but bright afternoon in Derry.

The protest was opposing the system of imprisonment without charges – detaining individuals without trial – which had been put in place following an extended period of violence.

Troops from the Parachute Regiment killed thirteen individuals in the neighborhood – which was, and continues to be, a overwhelmingly Irish nationalist area.

A specific visual became particularly memorable.

Photographs showed a religious figure, Fr Edward Daly, displaying a blood-stained cloth while attempting to defend a group carrying a young man, the injured teenager, who had been fatally wounded.

Media personnel recorded extensive video on the day.

Historical records includes the priest explaining to a reporter that soldiers "just seemed to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no reason for the shooting.

The narrative of what happened was rejected by the initial investigation.

The first investigation determined the soldiers had been fired upon initially.

During the negotiation period, the administration established a fresh examination, after campaigning by family members, who said the first investigation had been a cover-up.

During 2010, the report by Lord Saville said that generally, the soldiers had discharged weapons initially and that zero among the individuals had posed any threat.

At that time Prime Minister, the Prime Minister, apologised in the Parliament – stating deaths were "improper and unjustifiable."

Authorities started to investigate the matter.

An ex-soldier, identified as the accused, was prosecuted for killing.

He was charged concerning the killings of James Wray, twenty-two, and in his mid-twenties the second individual.

The defendant was additionally charged of attempting to murder several people, Joseph Friel, more people, an additional individual, and an unnamed civilian.

There is a court ruling preserving the soldier's identity protection, which his attorneys have claimed is essential because he is at risk of attack.

He told the investigation that he had solely shot at individuals who were possessing firearms.

This assertion was rejected in the final report.

Material from the examination would not be used straightforwardly as testimony in the court case.

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

He made statements for the initial occasion in the hearing at a hearing in December 2024, to answer "not responsible" when the accusations were presented.

Kin of those who were killed on Bloody Sunday made the trip from the city to Belfast Crown Court every day of the proceedings.

One relative, whose sibling was died, said they always knew that listening to the proceedings would be emotional.

"I visualize all details in my recollection," the relative said, as we walked around the key areas discussed in the case – from the street, where his brother was fatally wounded, to the adjoining the courtyard, where one victim and the second person were died.

"It reminds me to where I was that day.

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

"I relived the entire event during the evidence.

"Notwithstanding experiencing everything – it's still meaningful for me."