🔗 Share this article

January 30th, 1972 remains arguably the most deadly – and significant – dates throughout multiple decades of violence in the region.

Within the community where events unfolded – the memories of the tragic events are visible on the structures and embedded in people's minds.

A protest demonstration was organized on a wintry, sunny afternoon in Derry.

The demonstration was challenging the practice of internment – detaining individuals without legal proceedings – which had been implemented following three years of unrest.

Soldiers from the Parachute Regiment fatally wounded multiple civilians in the district – which was, and still is, a overwhelmingly nationalist population.

A specific visual became particularly prominent.

Photographs showed a religious figure, Father Daly, displaying a stained with blood white handkerchief while attempting to protect a crowd transporting a young man, the fatally wounded individual, who had been killed.

News camera operators documented considerable film on the day.

The archive features Father Daly informing a media representative that military personnel "appeared to shoot indiscriminately" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no provocation for the discharge of weapons.

That version of what happened was disputed by the original examination.

The first investigation concluded the soldiers had been fired upon initially.

Throughout the peace process, the ruling party commissioned another inquiry, in response to advocacy by bereaved relatives, who said Widgery had been a whitewash.

That year, the conclusion by the investigation said that overall, the soldiers had initiated shooting and that zero among the casualties had presented danger.

At that time government leader, the leader, apologised in the government chamber – stating deaths were "without justification and unjustifiable."

Law enforcement commenced look into the matter.

A military veteran, referred to as Soldier F, was prosecuted for killing.

Accusations were made regarding the fatalities of one victim, in his twenties, and in his mid-twenties another victim.

The accused was additionally charged of attempting to murder Patrick O'Donnell, additional persons, more people, another person, and an unnamed civilian.

Exists a judicial decision preserving the soldier's privacy, which his attorneys have argued is essential because he is at danger.

He stated to the Saville Inquiry that he had solely shot at persons who were possessing firearms.

That claim was disputed in the official findings.

Information from the investigation was unable to be used straightforwardly as proof in the legal proceedings.

During the trial, the defendant was shielded from sight with a privacy screen.

He spoke for the opening instance in the hearing at a session in December 2024, to reply "not guilty" when the accusations were read.

Kin of those who were killed on Bloody Sunday made the trip from Derry to Belfast Crown Court daily of the case.

A family member, whose sibling was fatally wounded, said they understood that attending the case would be difficult.

"I can see all details in my mind's eye," he said, as we walked around the main locations referenced in the case – from the street, where his brother was fatally wounded, to the adjacent Glenfada Park, where the individual and another victim were killed.

"It returns me to my location that day.

"I participated in moving the victim and lay him in the ambulance.

"I relived each detail during the testimony.

"But even with experiencing all that – it's still worthwhile for me."