🔗 Share this article

Sunday 30 January 1972 stands as arguably the most deadly – and significant – dates during multiple decades of violence in Northern Ireland.

Within the community of the incident – the images of Bloody Sunday are displayed on the buildings and embedded in people's minds.

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

The march was challenging the practice of detention without trial – imprisoning people without trial – which had been established in response to an extended period of conflict.

Military personnel from the specialized division killed multiple civilians in the district – which was, and remains, a strongly Irish nationalist community.

A particular photograph became especially memorable.

Images showed a clergyman, Father Daly, using a blood-stained white handkerchief in his effort to shield a assembly transporting a young man, the injured teenager, who had been fatally wounded.

Media personnel recorded extensive video on the day.

The archive features Fr Daly explaining to a media representative that soldiers "appeared to shoot indiscriminately" and he was "completely sure" that there was no reason for the gunfire.

The narrative of the incident wasn't accepted by the original examination.

The first investigation found the military had been attacked first.

Throughout the negotiation period, the ruling party established another inquiry, following pressure by bereaved relatives, who said the first investigation had been a inadequate investigation.

During 2010, the conclusion by the inquiry said that on balance, the soldiers had discharged weapons initially and that zero among the casualties had presented danger.

At that time government leader, the Prime Minister, expressed regret in the House of Commons – declaring deaths were "unjustified and unacceptable."

The police began to examine the matter.

An ex-soldier, referred to as the defendant, was prosecuted for killing.

He was charged regarding the fatalities of James Wray, in his twenties, and in his mid-twenties William McKinney.

The accused was further implicated of seeking to harm Patrick O'Donnell, other civilians, Joe Mahon, another person, and an unknown person.

Remains a court ruling preserving the soldier's anonymity, which his lawyers have argued is required because he is at risk of attack.

He told the investigation that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at people who were carrying weapons.

The statement was dismissed in the official findings.

Evidence from the investigation would not be used straightforwardly as evidence in the court case.

In the dock, the veteran was hidden from public behind a privacy screen.

He spoke for the initial occasion in court at a hearing in that month, to answer "innocent" when the charges were read.

Family members of those who were killed on the incident travelled from Londonderry to the judicial building each day of the trial.

One relative, whose relative was fatally wounded, said they understood that attending the trial would be difficult.

"I visualize the events in my mind's eye," John said, as we visited the primary sites discussed in the proceedings – from the location, where Michael was shot dead, to the adjacent the area, where James Wray and William McKinney were died.

"It returns me to my location that day.

"I helped to carry the victim and place him in the vehicle.

"I relived each detail during the testimony.

"Notwithstanding enduring the process – it's still worthwhile for me."