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January 30th, 1972 remains arguably the deadliest – and consequential – days during multiple decades of unrest in Northern Ireland.

In the streets where events unfolded – the legacy of that fateful day are visible on the walls and embedded in collective memory.

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

The demonstration was opposing the policy of internment – holding suspects without due process – which had been put in place in response to an extended period of unrest.

Military personnel from the elite army unit fatally wounded 13 people in the neighborhood – which was, and still is, a overwhelmingly nationalist population.

One image became particularly memorable.

Photographs showed a religious figure, Father Daly, waving a bloodied white handkerchief in his effort to protect a crowd transporting a youth, Jackie Duddy, who had been fatally wounded.

News camera operators recorded considerable film on the day.

Documented accounts includes Fr Daly informing a journalist that soldiers "appeared to fire in all directions" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no reason for the shooting.

This account of events wasn't accepted by the original examination.

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

During the resolution efforts, Tony Blair's government established a fresh examination, following pressure by family members, who said the first investigation had been a inadequate investigation.

In 2010, the report by the inquiry said that generally, the military personnel had discharged weapons initially and that zero among the casualties had posed any threat.

The contemporary Prime Minister, David Cameron, issued an apology in the government chamber – declaring killings were "improper and unacceptable."

Law enforcement began to look into the incident.

One former paratrooper, referred to as Soldier F, was charged for murder.

Accusations were made concerning the deaths of the first individual, twenty-two, and twenty-six-year-old another victim.

The accused was additionally charged of seeking to harm several people, other civilians, further individuals, an additional individual, and an unnamed civilian.

Exists a legal order maintaining the defendant's identity protection, which his legal team have argued is essential because he is at risk of attack.

He told the investigation that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at individuals who were possessing firearms.

This assertion was disputed in the final report.

Material from the examination was unable to be used directly as proof in the criminal process.

In court, the veteran was screened from view behind a blue curtain.

He made statements for the first time in the hearing at a hearing in late 2024, to reply "not responsible" when the accusations were read.

Relatives of those who were killed on that day travelled from Londonderry to the judicial building each day of the trial.

A family member, whose sibling was died, said they always knew that attending the proceedings would be difficult.

"I remember all details in my recollection," the relative said, as we walked around the key areas referenced in the trial – from Rossville Street, where his brother was shot dead, to the nearby the courtyard, where one victim and the second person were fatally wounded.

"It returns me to my location that day.

"I assisted with Michael and place him in the ambulance.

"I experienced again every moment during the testimony.

"Despite having to go through everything – it's still valuable for me."