🔗 Share this article

Sunday 30 January 1972 remains arguably the most fatal – and momentous – dates throughout thirty years of violence in the region.

Within the community where it happened – the images of the tragic events are painted on the buildings and etched in public consciousness.

A protest demonstration was organized on a wintry, sunny period in the city.

The protest was a protest against the policy of imprisonment without charges – detaining individuals without trial – which had been established following multiple years of conflict.

Troops from the elite army unit shot dead multiple civilians in the Bogside area – which was, and still is, a strongly nationalist area.

One image became particularly memorable.

Images showed a clergyman, the priest, displaying a blood-stained fabric while attempting to defend a crowd carrying a young man, the injured teenager, who had been killed.

Media personnel documented considerable film on the day.

Historical records features Fr Daly informing a reporter that military personnel "gave the impression they would shoot indiscriminately" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no reason for the gunfire.

The narrative of the incident was disputed by the original examination.

The first investigation concluded the Army had been attacked first.

During the negotiation period, the administration established a new investigation, in response to advocacy by bereaved relatives, who said Widgery had been a cover-up.

That year, the report by the inquiry said that overall, the soldiers had initiated shooting and that none of the casualties had presented danger.

The then government leader, David Cameron, expressed regret in the House of Commons – saying killings were "without justification and unjustifiable."

Authorities started to examine the matter.

A military veteran, known as the defendant, was prosecuted for homicide.

He was charged regarding the killings of one victim, twenty-two, and 26-year-old William McKinney.

Soldier F was also accused of attempting to murder multiple individuals, Joseph Friel, further individuals, another person, and an unidentified individual.

Exists a court ruling preserving the soldier's privacy, which his legal team have argued is necessary because he is at risk of attack.

He testified the examination that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at people who were carrying weapons.

This assertion was rejected in the official findings.

Evidence from the inquiry could not be used immediately as testimony in the legal proceedings.

In the dock, the veteran was screened from view with a privacy screen.

He made statements for the first time in court at a hearing in late 2024, to respond "not responsible" when the accusations were put to him.

Family members of those who were killed on Bloody Sunday journeyed from Derry to the courthouse daily of the case.

John Kelly, whose relative was fatally wounded, said they understood that hearing the trial would be painful.

"I can see everything in my mind's eye," he said, as we examined the primary sites mentioned in the trial – from Rossville Street, where his brother was fatally wounded, to the nearby the area, where the individual and William McKinney were died.

"It returns me to my position that day.

"I helped to carry Michael and lay him in the vehicle.

"I went through each detail during the evidence.

"Notwithstanding having to go through all that – it's still worthwhile for me."