🔗 Share this article

Sunday 30 January 1972 stands as arguably the most deadly – and significant – dates throughout thirty years of unrest in the region.

In the streets where events unfolded – the images of the tragic events are painted on the structures and seared in public consciousness.

A protest demonstration was organized on a cold but bright afternoon in Derry.

The march was a protest against the policy of internment – detaining individuals without due process – which had been established in response to three years of violence.

Soldiers from the elite army unit shot dead multiple civilians in the district – which was, and remains, a overwhelmingly nationalist population.

A specific visual became notably memorable.

Images showed a religious figure, Father Daly, waving a stained with blood fabric in his effort to shield a group carrying a teenager, the injured teenager, who had been killed.

Media personnel documented much footage on the day.

Documented accounts features the priest explaining to a journalist that soldiers "gave the impression they would shoot indiscriminately" and he was "completely sure" that there was no provocation for the gunfire.

This account of what happened wasn't accepted by the first inquiry.

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

Throughout the peace process, the ruling party commissioned a new investigation, after campaigning by surviving kin, who said the first investigation had been a inadequate investigation.

That year, the findings by the investigation said that overall, the military personnel had fired first and that zero among the individuals had presented danger.

At that time head of state, David Cameron, issued an apology in the House of Commons – saying fatalities were "improper and unjustifiable."

Law enforcement started to look into the events.

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

Accusations were made concerning the deaths of James Wray, in his twenties, and 26-year-old the second individual.

The defendant was also accused of trying to kill multiple individuals, additional persons, further individuals, an additional individual, and an unidentified individual.

Exists a legal order protecting the veteran's anonymity, which his legal team have maintained is necessary because he is at risk of attack.

He stated to the examination that he had solely shot at individuals who were carrying weapons.

This assertion was dismissed in the final report.

Material from the investigation could not be used straightforwardly as testimony in the court case.

In the dock, the accused was hidden from public using a privacy screen.

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

Relatives of the deceased on Bloody Sunday journeyed from Londonderry to the judicial building each day of the proceedings.

John Kelly, whose sibling was fatally wounded, said they understood that hearing the proceedings would be painful.

"I can see everything in my recollection," John said, as we visited the key areas mentioned in the trial – from Rossville Street, where his brother was shot dead, to the adjoining the area, where James Wray and William McKinney were fatally wounded.

"It returns me to my location that day.

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

"I went through every moment during the evidence.

"Despite having to go through the process – it's still meaningful for me."