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January 30th, 1972 remains arguably the deadliest – and consequential – dates during multiple decades of violence in this area.

Throughout the area where it happened – the memories of the tragic events are displayed on the structures and etched in collective memory.

A protest demonstration was conducted on a cold but bright day in Londonderry.

The protest was opposing the system of imprisonment without charges – detaining individuals without due process – which had been implemented in response to multiple years of conflict.

Military personnel from the Parachute Regiment killed 13 people in the district – which was, and continues to be, a overwhelmingly Irish nationalist population.

A specific visual became notably prominent.

Pictures showed a Catholic priest, the priest, using a stained with blood fabric in his effort to defend a group carrying a young man, the injured teenager, who had been fatally wounded.

Journalists captured extensive video on the day.

Documented accounts includes Father Daly telling a media representative that troops "gave the impression they would fire in all directions" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no justification for the discharge of weapons.

The narrative of events was rejected by the first inquiry.

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

During the negotiation period, the administration commissioned a new investigation, after campaigning by bereaved relatives, who said the first investigation had been a inadequate investigation.

During 2010, the conclusion by the inquiry said that overall, the soldiers had discharged weapons initially and that not one of the individuals had presented danger.

At that time head of state, the leader, issued an apology in the government chamber – declaring deaths were "unjustified and unacceptable."

Law enforcement commenced look into the events.

One former paratrooper, identified as the defendant, was brought to trial for killing.

Accusations were made over the killings of the first individual, in his twenties, and twenty-six-year-old another victim.

Soldier F was also accused of seeking to harm multiple individuals, Joseph Friel, further individuals, Michael Quinn, and an unidentified individual.

Exists a legal order protecting the defendant's identity protection, which his lawyers have claimed is necessary because he is at threat.

He stated to the Saville Inquiry that he had solely shot at persons who were carrying weapons.

That claim was dismissed in the final report.

Information from the inquiry was unable to be used straightforwardly as testimony in the criminal process.

In court, the accused was shielded from sight behind a protective barrier.

He made statements for the first time in court at a session in late 2024, to reply "not guilty" when the charges were read.

Family members of the victims on the incident travelled from Derry to the judicial building each day of the trial.

One relative, whose sibling was died, said they always knew that hearing the case would be difficult.

"I visualize the events in my memory," John said, as we visited the main locations discussed in the trial – from Rossville Street, where the victim was fatally wounded, to the nearby Glenfada Park, where the individual and another victim were fatally wounded.

"It reminds me to where I was that day.

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

"I relived each detail during the testimony.

"Despite having to go through all that – it's still worthwhile for me."