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Sunday 30 January 1972 stands as arguably the most fatal – and consequential – days during thirty years of unrest in Northern Ireland.

Within the community where events unfolded – the images of the tragic events are painted on the walls and embedded in people's minds.

A protest demonstration was held on a chilly yet clear day in Londonderry.

The demonstration was opposing the policy of internment – detaining individuals without due process – which had been put in place following three years of violence.

Soldiers from the specialized division fatally wounded thirteen individuals in the district – which was, and continues to be, a strongly Irish nationalist community.

A particular photograph became notably prominent.

Pictures showed a clergyman, Fr Edward Daly, using a stained with blood cloth as he tried to defend a crowd carrying a teenager, the fatally wounded individual, who had been killed.

News camera operators documented considerable film on the day.

Historical records includes Father Daly informing a journalist that troops "gave the impression they would shoot indiscriminately" and he was "completely sure" that there was no reason for the discharge of weapons.

This account of events was disputed by the first inquiry.

The first investigation determined the military had been shot at first.

During the resolution efforts, Tony Blair's government set up a fresh examination, after campaigning by surviving kin, who said the first investigation had been a cover-up.

During 2010, the findings by the investigation said that overall, the soldiers had initiated shooting and that not one of the individuals had presented danger.

The then head of state, David Cameron, expressed regret in the Parliament – saying deaths were "improper and inexcusable."

Law enforcement started to examine the events.

An ex-soldier, referred to as Soldier F, was charged for killing.

Indictments were filed over the fatalities of the first individual, 22, and 26-year-old the second individual.

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

Remains a court ruling preserving the soldier's identity protection, which his lawyers have claimed is required because he is at threat.

He told the Saville Inquiry that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at individuals who were carrying weapons.

The statement was dismissed in the final report.

Information from the investigation was unable to be used immediately as evidence in the legal proceedings.

In the dock, the veteran was hidden from public with a privacy screen.

He addressed the court for the initial occasion in the hearing at a proceeding in late 2024, to reply "not responsible" when the charges were presented.

Relatives of the victims on that day travelled from Londonderry to the judicial building daily of the trial.

One relative, whose sibling was fatally wounded, said they always knew that listening to the case would be painful.

"I can see everything in my memory," he said, as we examined the primary sites referenced in the trial – from the location, where the victim was fatally wounded, to the adjacent Glenfada Park, where the individual and another victim were died.

"It even takes me back to where I was that day.

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

"I went through each detail during the testimony.

"But even with enduring all that – it's still valuable for me."