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Sunday 30 January 1972 stands as among the deadliest – and consequential – occasions throughout three decades of unrest in Northern Ireland.

Within the community of the incident – the legacy of that fateful day are displayed on the walls and etched in collective memory.

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

The demonstration was a protest against the policy of detention without trial – detaining individuals without due process – which had been put in place after an extended period of conflict.

Troops from the specialized division killed 13 people in the Bogside area – which was, and continues to be, a overwhelmingly Irish nationalist community.

A specific visual became particularly prominent.

Pictures showed a Catholic priest, the priest, waving a bloodied fabric while attempting to shield a assembly carrying a teenager, the fatally wounded individual, who had been mortally injured.

News camera operators documented considerable film on the day.

Documented accounts contains the priest informing a media representative that soldiers "just seemed to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no reason for the shooting.

This account of events was disputed by the first inquiry.

The Widgery Tribunal concluded the Army had been fired upon initially.

Throughout the peace process, the administration set up a new investigation, after campaigning by family members, who said the first investigation had been a cover-up.

In 2010, the findings by the investigation said that overall, the soldiers had initiated shooting and that zero among the casualties had posed any threat.

The contemporary head of state, the Prime Minister, expressed regret in the House of Commons – stating killings were "improper and unjustifiable."

Law enforcement started to look into the matter.

One former paratrooper, referred to as the defendant, was prosecuted for homicide.

Indictments were filed regarding the fatalities of James Wray, in his twenties, and 26-year-old the second individual.

The accused was further implicated of trying to kill Patrick O'Donnell, other civilians, more people, another person, and an unknown person.

Remains a judicial decision preserving the veteran's identity protection, which his legal team have maintained is necessary because he is at risk of attack.

He told the Saville Inquiry that he had only fired at persons who were armed.

That claim was rejected in the final report.

Information from the investigation could not be used immediately as evidence in the court case.

In court, the accused was screened from view using a protective barrier.

He made statements for the first time in the proceedings at a proceeding in December 2024, to reply "not responsible" when the allegations were presented.

Relatives of the victims on Bloody Sunday travelled from the city to the judicial building each day of the proceedings.

John Kelly, whose relative was killed, said they always knew that hearing the proceedings would be painful.

"I visualize all details in my mind's eye," he said, as we walked around the main locations discussed in the proceedings – from the location, where the victim was fatally wounded, to the nearby the courtyard, where James Wray and another victim were died.

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

"I participated in moving my brother and lay him in the ambulance.

"I relived every moment during the proceedings.

"Notwithstanding experiencing all that – it's still worthwhile for me."