🔗 Share this article

January 30th, 1972 stands as among the deadliest – and consequential – occasions in three decades of unrest in this area.

Within the community where events unfolded – the memories of that fateful day are displayed on the structures and etched in people's minds.

A protest demonstration was organized on a cold but bright day in Londonderry.

The protest was a protest against the policy of imprisonment without charges – holding suspects without due process – which had been established after three years of unrest.

Troops from the Parachute Regiment fatally wounded 13 people in the Bogside area – which was, and continues to be, a overwhelmingly Irish nationalist community.

A specific visual became particularly iconic.

Photographs showed a religious figure, the priest, using a blood-stained white handkerchief in his effort to protect a group moving a young man, Jackie Duddy, who had been fatally wounded.

News camera operators recorded extensive video on the day.

Historical records contains Father Daly explaining to a media representative that troops "gave the impression they would shoot indiscriminately" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no justification for the discharge of weapons.

This account of the incident was disputed by the initial investigation.

The Widgery Tribunal determined the military had been shot at first.

During the resolution efforts, Tony Blair's government set up a new investigation, in response to advocacy by surviving kin, who said the first investigation had been a whitewash.

That year, the findings by the inquiry said that on balance, the paratroopers had discharged weapons initially and that none of the victims had been armed.

At that time Prime Minister, David Cameron, expressed regret in the government chamber – saying killings were "unjustified and inexcusable."

Authorities commenced examine the incident.

An ex-soldier, referred to as Soldier F, was charged for killing.

He was charged over the deaths of one victim, 22, and 26-year-old the second individual.

The accused was further implicated of attempting to murder Patrick O'Donnell, other civilians, further individuals, Michael Quinn, and an unknown person.

Exists a legal order protecting the defendant's identity protection, which his attorneys have claimed is necessary because he is at risk of attack.

He stated to the investigation that he had only fired at persons who were carrying weapons.

This assertion was dismissed in the official findings.

Information from the investigation was unable to be used directly as proof in the legal proceedings.

In the dock, the veteran was shielded from sight with a protective barrier.

He spoke for the initial occasion in the hearing at a session in that month, to reply "not guilty" when the charges were read.

Relatives of the deceased on the incident made the trip from Derry to Belfast Crown Court each day of the case.

One relative, whose brother Michael was died, said they were aware that attending the proceedings would be painful.

"I visualize the events in my recollection," John said, as we visited the main locations referenced in the trial – from the location, where his brother was shot dead, to the nearby the courtyard, where the individual and another victim were fatally wounded.

"It returns me to my position that day.

"I assisted with my brother and put him in the vehicle.

"I went through every moment during the evidence.

"Despite enduring all that – it's still meaningful for me."