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Sunday 30 January 1972 remains among the deadliest – and momentous – occasions during thirty years of unrest in Northern Ireland.

Within the community where it happened – the images of Bloody Sunday are displayed on the walls and etched in collective memory.

A civil rights march was organized on a wintry, sunny period in Derry.

The demonstration was opposing the system of internment – detaining individuals without due process – which had been implemented after an extended period of unrest.

Troops from the specialized division fatally wounded multiple civilians in the neighborhood – which was, and still is, a predominantly republican community.

A specific visual became especially iconic.

Photographs showed a clergyman, the priest, displaying a blood-stained cloth as he tried to shield a crowd moving a teenager, the injured teenager, who had been fatally wounded.

Journalists documented considerable film on the day.

Historical records features the priest informing a reporter that troops "just seemed to shoot indiscriminately" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no reason for the shooting.

This account of what happened was disputed by the original examination.

The first investigation found the soldiers had been attacked first.

In the negotiation period, the administration established another inquiry, in response to advocacy by surviving kin, who said the first investigation had been a cover-up.

In 2010, the report by the investigation said that generally, the soldiers had fired first and that not one of the individuals had presented danger.

The contemporary head of state, the Prime Minister, apologised in the Parliament – declaring killings were "improper and inexcusable."

Authorities commenced look into the events.

An ex-soldier, referred to as the defendant, was brought to trial for homicide.

Accusations were made over the deaths of the first individual, in his twenties, and 26-year-old William McKinney.

The accused was additionally charged of trying to kill several people, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon, an additional individual, and an unnamed civilian.

Exists a legal order maintaining the veteran's identity protection, which his attorneys have argued is necessary because he is at danger.

He stated to the Saville Inquiry that he had only fired at people who were possessing firearms.

The statement was dismissed in the concluding document.

Evidence from the inquiry could not be used directly as evidence in the criminal process.

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

He addressed the court for the first time in court at a proceeding in December 2024, to respond "not guilty" when the allegations were read.

Relatives of the deceased on that day travelled from the city to the courthouse every day of the proceedings.

A family member, whose relative was fatally wounded, said they always knew that listening to the proceedings would be emotional.

"I can see all details in my mind's eye," he said, as we visited the key areas discussed in the case – from the location, where the victim was shot dead, to the adjoining the courtyard, where the individual and William McKinney were killed.

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

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

"I relived each detail during the evidence.

"But even with having to go through everything – it's still valuable for me."