🔗 Share this article

Sunday 30 January 1972 stands as among the deadliest – and consequential – dates throughout three decades of conflict in the region.

Within the community of the incident – the memories of the tragic events are painted on the buildings and embedded in collective memory.

A civil rights march was organized on a wintry, sunny period in Londonderry.

The march was challenging the system of internment – holding suspects without trial – which had been implemented following multiple years of conflict.

Troops from the Parachute Regiment shot dead multiple civilians in the neighborhood – which was, and still is, a overwhelmingly nationalist community.

A particular photograph became notably iconic.

Pictures showed a clergyman, the priest, using a stained with blood fabric as he tried to defend a assembly transporting a youth, the injured teenager, who had been killed.

News camera operators documented much footage on the day.

Historical records contains Father Daly informing a journalist that troops "gave the impression they would fire in all directions" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no reason for the shooting.

That version of events was rejected by the first inquiry.

The initial inquiry determined the military had been attacked first.

In the negotiation period, Tony Blair's government set up another inquiry, following pressure by bereaved relatives, who said the first investigation had been a whitewash.

During 2010, the findings by Lord Saville said that generally, the paratroopers had initiated shooting and that zero among the casualties had posed any threat.

The contemporary Prime Minister, David Cameron, apologised in the government chamber – saying killings were "without justification and unacceptable."

Law enforcement commenced look into the events.

One former paratrooper, referred to as Soldier F, was charged for homicide.

Indictments were filed regarding the fatalities of James Wray, twenty-two, and 26-year-old William McKinney.

Soldier F was further implicated of seeking to harm multiple individuals, other civilians, further individuals, an additional individual, and an unnamed civilian.

Remains a legal order preserving the defendant's privacy, which his attorneys have maintained is required because he is at risk of attack.

He testified the examination that he had solely shot at individuals who were armed.

That claim was dismissed in the official findings.

Information from the examination could not be used straightforwardly as evidence in the criminal process.

In the dock, the veteran was shielded from sight behind a blue curtain.

He made statements for the opening instance in the hearing at a session in late 2024, to respond "not responsible" when the allegations were put to him.

Relatives of the deceased on Bloody Sunday travelled from Derry to the courthouse daily of the case.

John Kelly, whose brother Michael was died, said they understood that hearing the proceedings would be emotional.

"I visualize the events in my memory," John said, as we visited the main locations mentioned in the case – from the street, where Michael was shot dead, to the adjoining the area, where James Wray and another victim were died.

"It returns me to where I was that day.

"I participated in moving my brother and place him in the ambulance.

"I went through the entire event during the proceedings.

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