🔗 Share this article

January 30th, 1972 is remembered as arguably the deadliest – and significant – occasions in three decades of conflict in Northern Ireland.

Within the community of the incident – the memories of Bloody Sunday are displayed on the buildings and seared in people's minds.

A civil rights march was held on a chilly yet clear afternoon in Derry.

The protest was challenging the policy of detention without trial – detaining individuals without due process – which had been implemented following multiple years of conflict.

Troops from the specialized division fatally wounded thirteen individuals in the district – which was, and remains, a strongly republican area.

One image became particularly prominent.

Pictures showed a Catholic priest, Father Daly, waving a stained with blood cloth in his effort to shield a crowd carrying a young man, the fatally wounded individual, who had been mortally injured.

Media personnel documented considerable film on the day.

Documented accounts contains the priest telling a media representative that troops "gave the impression they would fire in all directions" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no provocation for the discharge of weapons.

The narrative of what happened was rejected by the first inquiry.

The first investigation found the soldiers had been shot at first.

In the negotiation period, Tony Blair's government established another inquiry, following pressure by surviving kin, who said Widgery had been a cover-up.

In 2010, the findings by the inquiry said that generally, the paratroopers had fired first and that zero among the casualties had posed any threat.

At that time head of state, the leader, issued an apology in the Parliament – stating fatalities were "unjustified and inexcusable."

Authorities began to examine the incident.

An ex-soldier, referred to as Soldier F, was charged for murder.

He was charged concerning the deaths of James Wray, in his twenties, and in his mid-twenties the second individual.

Soldier F was further implicated of trying to kill several people, other civilians, more people, another person, and an unnamed civilian.

There is a judicial decision protecting the defendant's anonymity, which his lawyers have maintained is necessary because he is at danger.

He stated to the examination that he had solely shot at individuals who were possessing firearms.

The statement was dismissed in the official findings.

Information from the inquiry could not be used straightforwardly as evidence in the criminal process.

In court, the defendant was shielded from sight using a protective barrier.

He addressed the court for the initial occasion in the proceedings at a hearing in that month, to respond "innocent" when the allegations were presented.

Family members of those who were killed on that day travelled from Londonderry to the courthouse daily of the case.

One relative, whose brother Michael was died, said they understood that hearing the case would be painful.

"I can see everything in my recollection," the relative said, as we walked around the primary sites referenced in the case – from Rossville Street, where his brother was fatally wounded, to the adjoining the area, where James Wray and another victim were fatally wounded.

"It returns me to where I was that day.

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

"I relived each detail during the testimony.

"Despite enduring the process – it's still worthwhile for me."