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January 30th, 1972 remains among the most fatal – and consequential – dates during thirty years of conflict in Northern Ireland.

Within the community where it happened – the legacy of Bloody Sunday are displayed on the buildings and seared in collective memory.

A protest demonstration was held on a wintry, sunny day in Derry.

The march was a protest against the practice of detention without trial – detaining individuals without legal proceedings – which had been implemented following multiple years of unrest.

Troops from the specialized division killed thirteen individuals in the Bogside area – which was, and remains, a predominantly Irish nationalist area.

A particular photograph became notably memorable.

Images showed a Catholic priest, Fr Edward Daly, using a stained with blood white handkerchief in his effort to protect a group moving a youth, the fatally wounded individual, who had been killed.

News camera operators recorded extensive video on the day.

Documented accounts contains Fr Daly telling a reporter that troops "gave the impression they would discharge weapons randomly" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no justification for the shooting.

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

The first investigation concluded the soldiers had been shot at first.

Throughout the peace process, Tony Blair's government set up a new investigation, after campaigning by bereaved relatives, who said the initial inquiry had been a inadequate investigation.

During 2010, the report by the inquiry said that generally, the soldiers had discharged weapons initially and that zero among the victims had presented danger.

The contemporary head of state, the Prime Minister, issued an apology in the Parliament – declaring fatalities were "without justification and unjustifiable."

Authorities commenced investigate the incident.

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

He was charged concerning the fatalities of one victim, twenty-two, and in his mid-twenties William McKinney.

The defendant was additionally charged of trying to kill several people, other civilians, Joe Mahon, another person, and an unnamed civilian.

Exists a legal order preserving the defendant's identity protection, which his lawyers have claimed is necessary because he is at danger.

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

The statement was disputed in the final report.

Evidence from the investigation was unable to be used straightforwardly as proof in the criminal process.

During the trial, the veteran was hidden from public with a privacy screen.

He made statements for the first time in the proceedings at a session in December 2024, to respond "not responsible" when the accusations were read.

Family members of the victims on Bloody Sunday journeyed from Derry to Belfast Crown Court every day of the trial.

John Kelly, whose relative was fatally wounded, said they were aware that hearing the proceedings would be painful.

"I can see all details in my mind's eye," he said, as we visited the key areas discussed in the case – from Rossville Street, where the victim was shot dead, to the adjoining the area, where the individual and the second person were fatally wounded.

"It returns me to my position that day.

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

"I went through the entire event during the evidence.

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