🔗 Share this article

Sunday 30 January 1972 remains arguably the most fatal – and consequential – occasions in thirty years of conflict in the region.

In the streets where it happened – the images of Bloody Sunday are displayed on the walls and etched in people's minds.

A civil rights march was held on a cold but bright afternoon in Londonderry.

The demonstration was challenging the policy of internment – detaining individuals without due process – which had been established in response to an extended period of violence.

Troops from the elite army unit fatally wounded thirteen individuals in the district – which was, and remains, a strongly republican area.

A particular photograph became particularly memorable.

Images showed a clergyman, Fr Edward Daly, using a bloodied fabric in his effort to defend a assembly transporting a teenager, Jackie Duddy, who had been killed.

News camera operators captured considerable film on the day.

Historical records features the priest telling a reporter that military personnel "appeared to fire in all directions" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no justification for the discharge of weapons.

That version of the incident was disputed by the first inquiry.

The Widgery Tribunal determined the soldiers had been attacked first.

During the negotiation period, the ruling party established another inquiry, following pressure by family members, who said the first investigation had been a inadequate investigation.

During 2010, the findings by the inquiry said that overall, the paratroopers had discharged weapons initially and that none of the casualties had been armed.

At that time Prime Minister, the leader, apologised in the House of Commons – saying fatalities were "without justification and unacceptable."

Law enforcement began to look into the events.

A military veteran, identified as the defendant, was brought to trial for murder.

He was charged over the fatalities of one victim, 22, and twenty-six-year-old another victim.

The accused was additionally charged of attempting to murder Patrick O'Donnell, Joseph Friel, more people, Michael Quinn, and an unknown person.

Exists a legal order preserving the veteran's identity protection, which his attorneys have maintained is required because he is at threat.

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

This assertion was rejected in the official findings.

Evidence from the investigation would not be used straightforwardly as evidence in the legal proceedings.

In the dock, the accused was shielded from sight using a protective barrier.

He spoke for the first time in the proceedings at a proceeding in that month, to respond "not responsible" when the allegations were presented.

Relatives of those who were killed on Bloody Sunday made the trip from Derry to the courthouse each day of the trial.

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

"I remember everything in my memory," the relative said, as we visited the key areas referenced in the proceedings – from the street, where Michael was killed, to the adjacent the area, where James Wray and the second person were died.

"It returns me to my position that day.

"I participated in moving the victim and put him in the medical transport.

"I went through every moment during the testimony.

"Notwithstanding having to go through everything – it's still valuable for me."