Sunday 30 January 1972 is remembered as arguably the most fatal – and significant – dates throughout three decades of unrest in this area.
In the streets where events unfolded – the legacy of Bloody Sunday are visible on the walls and embedded in collective memory.
A protest demonstration was conducted on a wintry, sunny period in Londonderry.
The demonstration was challenging the policy of detention without trial – detaining individuals without trial – which had been implemented after an extended period of unrest.
Soldiers from the Parachute Regiment fatally wounded 13 people in the Bogside area – which was, and still is, a overwhelmingly Irish nationalist community.
A particular photograph became especially iconic.
Pictures showed a religious figure, Fr Edward Daly, using a stained with blood cloth while attempting to shield a group transporting a youth, Jackie Duddy, who had been mortally injured.
Media personnel documented considerable film on the day.
Historical records includes the priest explaining to a journalist that soldiers "just seemed to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no reason for the gunfire.
That version of events was rejected by the original examination.
The first investigation concluded the Army had been fired upon initially.
In the negotiation period, Tony Blair's government commissioned another inquiry, after campaigning by surviving kin, who said Widgery had been a whitewash.
During 2010, the report by the investigation said that on balance, the paratroopers had initiated shooting and that none of the individuals had been armed.
The then head of state, the Prime Minister, apologised in the Parliament – saying fatalities were "improper and unacceptable."
Authorities commenced look into the incident.
A military veteran, referred to as the defendant, was charged for murder.
He was charged regarding the deaths of James Wray, in his twenties, and in his mid-twenties the second individual.
The accused was also accused of seeking to harm several people, other civilians, more people, another person, and an unknown person.
Remains a court ruling maintaining the veteran's anonymity, which his lawyers have claimed is required because he is at threat.
He stated to the Saville Inquiry that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at people who were possessing firearms.
This assertion was rejected in the final report.
Evidence from the examination was unable to be used directly as testimony in the criminal process.
In the dock, the accused was screened from view using a protective barrier.
He made statements for the first time in the proceedings at a proceeding in December 2024, to answer "innocent" when the allegations were read.
Relatives of those who were killed on the incident made the trip from the city to the judicial building every day of the proceedings.
John Kelly, whose brother Michael was died, said they were aware that listening to the case would be painful.
"I remember everything in my memory," he said, as we walked around the main locations mentioned in the case – from the location, where Michael was killed, to the adjoining the courtyard, where one victim and another victim were killed.
"It returns me to my location that day.
"I assisted with my brother and put him in the vehicle.
"I went through the entire event during the evidence.
"Notwithstanding having to go through everything – it's still worthwhile for me."
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