🔗 Share this article

January 30th, 1972 remains arguably the most fatal – and significant – dates throughout multiple decades of unrest in Northern Ireland.

In the streets where it happened – the memories of Bloody Sunday are visible on the buildings and etched in people's minds.

A public gathering was organized on a chilly yet clear afternoon in Derry.

The demonstration was opposing the practice of internment – imprisoning people without trial – which had been implemented after an extended period of conflict.

Military personnel from the elite army unit fatally wounded 13 people in the Bogside area – which was, and remains, a predominantly republican community.

One image became notably iconic.

Pictures showed a religious figure, the priest, waving a stained with blood white handkerchief while attempting to protect a crowd transporting a young man, the injured teenager, who had been killed.

Media personnel documented extensive video on the day.

Historical records contains the priest informing a journalist that military personnel "appeared to fire in all directions" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no reason for the gunfire.

This account of the incident was rejected by the first inquiry.

The first investigation found the military had been fired upon initially.

Throughout the negotiation period, Tony Blair's government set up a fresh examination, following pressure by family members, who said Widgery had been a whitewash.

In 2010, the report by the investigation said that overall, the military personnel had fired first and that zero among the casualties had posed any threat.

The then government leader, David Cameron, expressed regret in the Parliament – declaring killings were "without justification and unjustifiable."

Authorities commenced investigate the matter.

One former paratrooper, known as Soldier F, was charged for killing.

Accusations were made over the killings of James Wray, twenty-two, and 26-year-old the second individual.

The defendant was also accused of trying to kill several people, additional persons, further individuals, another person, and an unknown person.

Remains a legal order maintaining the defendant's privacy, which his lawyers have argued is essential because he is at threat.

He testified the Saville Inquiry that he had only fired at persons who were armed.

That claim was rejected in the concluding document.

Material from the examination could not be used immediately as testimony in the court case.

In the dock, the defendant was hidden from public using a privacy screen.

He addressed the court for the first time in the proceedings at a session in that month, to respond "not guilty" when the allegations were put to him.

Relatives of the deceased on that day journeyed from the city to Belfast Crown Court each day of the trial.

John Kelly, whose brother Michael was killed, said they understood that listening to the case would be difficult.

"I visualize all details in my recollection," he said, as we visited the key areas discussed in the case – from the street, where Michael was killed, to the adjacent the area, where the individual and William McKinney were died.

"It returns me to where I was that day.

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

"I experienced again the entire event during the proceedings.

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