🔗 Share this article

Sunday 30 January 1972 remains one of the most deadly – and consequential – dates in thirty years of conflict in this area.

Throughout the area where it happened – the memories of the tragic events are visible on the buildings and seared in people's minds.

A public gathering was held on a chilly yet clear period in Londonderry.

The demonstration was a protest against the system of detention without trial – holding suspects without legal proceedings – which had been implemented in response to three years of unrest.

Soldiers from the Parachute Regiment killed thirteen individuals in the Bogside area – which was, and continues to be, a overwhelmingly Irish nationalist area.

A particular photograph became especially prominent.

Images showed a Catholic priest, Father Daly, using a blood-stained white handkerchief while attempting to shield a assembly moving a teenager, the injured teenager, who had been killed.

Media personnel recorded extensive video on the day.

The archive includes the priest explaining to a media representative that military personnel "just seemed to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no reason for the shooting.

The narrative of the incident was rejected by the first inquiry.

The first investigation found the Army had been attacked first.

In the negotiation period, the administration commissioned a new investigation, in response to advocacy by family members, who said the first investigation had been a cover-up.

That year, the report by the inquiry said that on balance, the military personnel had discharged weapons initially and that not one of the casualties had been armed.

At that time government leader, the leader, issued an apology in the Parliament – declaring deaths were "without justification and unjustifiable."

Authorities started to look into the incident.

A military veteran, referred to as the accused, was charged for killing.

Indictments were filed over the deaths of one victim, in his twenties, and in his mid-twenties the second individual.

The defendant was also accused of trying to kill several people, Joseph Friel, further individuals, Michael Quinn, and an unnamed civilian.

There is a judicial decision maintaining the soldier's identity protection, which his attorneys have argued is essential because he is at risk of attack.

He testified the investigation that he had solely shot at persons who were carrying weapons.

The statement was dismissed in the concluding document.

Evidence from the examination was unable to be used immediately as proof in the court case.

During the trial, the veteran was shielded from sight behind a blue curtain.

He addressed the court for the initial occasion in court at a session in late 2024, to answer "innocent" when the allegations were presented.

Kin of the victims on that day travelled from Derry to Belfast Crown Court daily of the trial.

One relative, whose sibling was killed, said they always knew that attending the case would be emotional.

"I visualize the events in my memory," John said, as we visited the main locations mentioned in the trial – from Rossville Street, where the victim was fatally wounded, to the adjacent Glenfada Park, where James Wray and William McKinney were killed.

"It even takes me back to my position that day.

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

"I experienced again each detail during the evidence.

"But even with enduring all that – it's still valuable for me."