🔗 Share this article

Sunday 30 January 1972 is remembered as one of the most fatal – and momentous – occasions in multiple decades of conflict in Northern Ireland.

In the streets of the incident – the images of the tragic events are painted on the walls and etched in people's minds.

A civil rights march was conducted on a chilly yet clear period in Londonderry.

The protest was a protest against the policy of imprisonment without charges – holding suspects without due process – which had been implemented after an extended period of unrest.

Military personnel from the specialized division shot dead multiple civilians in the district – which was, and continues to be, a overwhelmingly nationalist community.

A particular photograph became particularly prominent.

Pictures showed a clergyman, the priest, displaying a stained with blood fabric in his effort to shield a crowd transporting a young man, the injured teenager, who had been mortally injured.

News camera operators captured extensive video on the day.

The archive includes Fr Daly informing a reporter that troops "just seemed to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no reason for the gunfire.

This account of what happened wasn't accepted by the first inquiry.

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

During the peace process, the administration set up another inquiry, in response to advocacy by surviving kin, who said the first investigation had been a inadequate investigation.

That year, the findings by the inquiry said that on balance, the soldiers had discharged weapons initially and that zero among the victims had presented danger.

At that time head of state, the leader, expressed regret in the House of Commons – declaring killings were "improper and unjustifiable."

Law enforcement began to look into the events.

One former paratrooper, referred to as the defendant, was charged for murder.

Accusations were made concerning the deaths of James Wray, 22, and in his mid-twenties another victim.

The defendant was further implicated of trying to kill multiple individuals, Joseph Friel, further individuals, an additional individual, and an unnamed civilian.

Remains a court ruling maintaining the defendant's anonymity, which his attorneys have claimed is essential because he is at danger.

He testified the Saville Inquiry that he had solely shot at people who were carrying weapons.

This assertion was disputed in the final report.

Evidence from the investigation could not be used directly as testimony in the criminal process.

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

He made statements for the initial occasion in the hearing at a session in late 2024, to answer "not guilty" when the allegations were put to him.

Family members of the victims on that day journeyed from the city to the judicial building each day of the case.

A family member, whose relative was died, said they understood that hearing the proceedings would be difficult.

"I visualize the events in my mind's eye," he said, as we examined the main locations discussed in the trial – from the location, where the victim was shot dead, to the adjoining Glenfada Park, where the individual and another victim were died.

"It returns me to where I was that day.

"I assisted with my brother and lay him in the ambulance.

"I relived the entire event during the evidence.

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