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Sunday 30 January 1972 remains among the most deadly – and consequential – dates throughout multiple decades of violence in Northern Ireland.

Within the community where it happened – the images of that fateful day are painted on the buildings and seared in collective memory.

A civil rights march was conducted on a cold but bright day in Derry.

The demonstration was a protest against the policy of detention without trial – holding suspects without due process – which had been established after three years of unrest.

Troops from the specialized division shot dead multiple civilians in the neighborhood – which was, and still is, a strongly nationalist population.

A specific visual became especially iconic.

Images showed a Catholic priest, Father Daly, using a blood-stained cloth while attempting to defend a crowd moving a teenager, the injured teenager, who had been killed.

News camera operators documented extensive video on the day.

Historical records includes the priest informing a reporter that troops "gave the impression they would shoot indiscriminately" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no justification for the gunfire.

The narrative of events was rejected by the original examination.

The first investigation found the soldiers had been attacked first.

During the peace process, Tony Blair's government established a new investigation, in response to advocacy by family members, who said the initial inquiry had been a inadequate investigation.

In 2010, the conclusion by the inquiry said that generally, the soldiers had discharged weapons initially and that none of the victims had posed any threat.

The contemporary Prime Minister, the leader, apologised in the Parliament – stating deaths were "without justification and inexcusable."

Law enforcement commenced examine the matter.

One former paratrooper, referred to as the accused, was charged for homicide.

Indictments were filed concerning the deaths of the first individual, 22, and twenty-six-year-old the second individual.

The accused was also accused of seeking to harm Patrick O'Donnell, additional persons, more people, Michael Quinn, and an unidentified individual.

Remains a judicial decision protecting the soldier's privacy, which his legal team have argued is necessary because he is at threat.

He testified the examination that he had only fired at individuals who were armed.

That claim was rejected in the official findings.

Material from the inquiry was unable to be used immediately as proof in the criminal process.

In the dock, the accused was hidden from public using a protective barrier.

He spoke for the initial occasion in the hearing at a session in December 2024, to answer "not guilty" when the accusations were read.

Relatives of the victims on Bloody Sunday journeyed from Derry to the judicial building daily of the trial.

One relative, whose relative was fatally wounded, said they were aware that listening to the trial would be difficult.

"I visualize the events in my memory," the relative said, as we examined the main locations referenced in the proceedings – from the street, where the victim was shot dead, to the adjacent the courtyard, where one victim and another victim were killed.

"It even takes me back to where I was that day.

"I participated in moving my brother and place him in the ambulance.

"I relived every moment during the testimony.

"Despite experiencing everything – it's still meaningful for me."