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Sunday 30 January 1972 remains among the most deadly – and momentous – occasions throughout multiple decades of violence in the region.

Within the community where it happened – the legacy of Bloody Sunday are visible on the structures and seared in public consciousness.

A civil rights march was organized on a wintry, sunny day in the city.

The protest was challenging the system of internment – detaining individuals without due process – which had been implemented in response to an extended period of unrest.

Military personnel from the specialized division shot dead thirteen individuals in the district – which was, and continues to be, a overwhelmingly Irish nationalist area.

One image became especially iconic.

Photographs showed a Catholic priest, the priest, using a blood-stained white handkerchief in his effort to protect a group moving a teenager, the fatally wounded individual, who had been killed.

Journalists documented considerable film on the day.

Historical records contains Fr Daly informing a reporter that troops "gave the impression they would fire in all directions" and he was "completely sure" that there was no justification for the discharge of weapons.

That version of the incident was disputed by the original examination.

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

During the negotiation period, the ruling party established another inquiry, following pressure by family members, who said Widgery had been a whitewash.

That year, the conclusion by the inquiry said that overall, the military personnel had discharged weapons initially and that none of the casualties had presented danger.

At that time Prime Minister, the leader, expressed regret in the Parliament – declaring fatalities were "improper and inexcusable."

Law enforcement began to examine the events.

One former paratrooper, identified as the accused, was prosecuted for murder.

Accusations were made concerning the deaths of James Wray, 22, and 26-year-old another victim.

The defendant was additionally charged of attempting to murder several people, other civilians, Joe Mahon, Michael Quinn, and an unknown person.

Remains a court ruling preserving the defendant's anonymity, which his attorneys have maintained is required because he is at risk of attack.

He testified the examination that he had only fired at persons who were armed.

That claim was rejected in the concluding document.

Material from the investigation could not be used immediately as evidence in the legal proceedings.

In court, the defendant was shielded from sight with a protective barrier.

He addressed the court for the first time in the proceedings at a hearing in late 2024, to respond "not guilty" when the charges were presented.

Kin of those who were killed on Bloody Sunday travelled from the city to the judicial building every day of the trial.

One relative, whose brother Michael was died, said they understood that listening to the trial would be painful.

"I remember the events in my mind's eye," John said, as we visited the primary sites discussed in the trial – from the street, where his brother was killed, to the nearby the courtyard, where the individual and William McKinney were killed.

"It returns me to where I was that day.

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

"I experienced again the entire event during the testimony.

"Despite experiencing the process – it's still valuable for me."