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Sunday 30 January 1972 remains one of the deadliest – and consequential – dates in thirty years of unrest in Northern Ireland.

In the streets where it happened – the legacy of Bloody Sunday are painted on the structures and etched in public consciousness.

A public gathering was held on a chilly yet clear afternoon in Londonderry.

The protest was a protest against the practice of detention without trial – imprisoning people without due process – which had been established in response to an extended period of unrest.

Soldiers from the Parachute Regiment shot dead 13 people in the Bogside area – which was, and still is, a predominantly nationalist population.

One image became particularly prominent.

Photographs showed a religious figure, the priest, using a stained with blood fabric in his effort to defend a group transporting a youth, Jackie Duddy, who had been killed.

News camera operators documented considerable film on the day.

Historical records contains Fr Daly explaining to a journalist that troops "gave the impression they would discharge weapons randomly" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no justification for the gunfire.

The narrative of events was rejected by the first inquiry.

The first investigation found the Army had been attacked first.

Throughout the negotiation period, the ruling party established another inquiry, following pressure by family members, who said the initial inquiry had been a cover-up.

That year, the findings by Lord Saville said that generally, the paratroopers had discharged weapons initially and that none of the casualties had been armed.

The contemporary Prime Minister, the leader, expressed regret in the Parliament – saying deaths were "improper and unacceptable."

Authorities started to look into the events.

A military veteran, known as the accused, was brought to trial for killing.

Accusations were made concerning the deaths of one victim, in his twenties, and in his mid-twenties William McKinney.

The accused was additionally charged of attempting to murder several people, Joseph Friel, further individuals, an additional individual, and an unknown person.

Exists a judicial decision maintaining the soldier's anonymity, which his lawyers have argued is required because he is at threat.

He testified the investigation that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at persons who were armed.

This assertion was disputed in the official findings.

Material from the investigation was unable to be used straightforwardly as proof in the legal proceedings.

In the dock, the accused was screened from view with a protective barrier.

He made statements for the first time in the hearing at a proceeding in late 2024, to respond "not guilty" when the allegations were presented.

Family members of the victims on Bloody Sunday travelled from Derry to the courthouse every day of the proceedings.

One relative, whose relative was killed, said they were aware that attending the case would be painful.

"I remember everything in my recollection," the relative said, as we visited the primary sites referenced in the proceedings – from Rossville Street, where Michael was shot dead, to the nearby the area, where one victim and the second person were fatally wounded.

"It returns me to my location that day.

"I participated in moving the victim and lay him in the ambulance.

"I went through each detail during the proceedings.

"Notwithstanding enduring the process – it's still meaningful for me."