🔗 Share this article

Sunday 30 January 1972 remains arguably the most fatal – and consequential – days in thirty years of unrest in Northern Ireland.

In the streets where it happened – the images of the tragic events are painted on the buildings and embedded in collective memory.

A public gathering was held on a cold but bright day in Londonderry.

The protest was opposing the policy of internment – imprisoning people without due process – which had been established following three years of conflict.

Soldiers from the Parachute Regiment fatally wounded 13 people in the neighborhood – which was, and remains, a overwhelmingly Irish nationalist community.

A particular photograph became especially memorable.

Pictures showed a Catholic priest, Fr Edward Daly, waving a bloodied white handkerchief in his effort to protect a group carrying a youth, Jackie Duddy, who had been killed.

News camera operators documented considerable film on the day.

Documented accounts features Father Daly informing a reporter that soldiers "just seemed to shoot indiscriminately" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no provocation for the shooting.

The narrative of events was disputed by the initial investigation.

The Widgery Tribunal determined the Army had been attacked first.

Throughout the peace process, Tony Blair's government set up a new investigation, after campaigning by surviving kin, who said the initial inquiry had been a cover-up.

During 2010, the report by Lord Saville said that on balance, the soldiers had discharged weapons initially and that not one of the victims had posed any threat.

At that time head of state, David Cameron, expressed regret in the government chamber – saying fatalities were "improper and inexcusable."

Authorities began to investigate the matter.

An ex-soldier, known as Soldier F, was charged for killing.

Accusations were made regarding the deaths of the first individual, 22, and 26-year-old another victim.

Soldier F was further implicated of attempting to murder multiple individuals, additional persons, Joe Mahon, an additional individual, and an unnamed civilian.

Remains a judicial decision maintaining the veteran's identity protection, which his lawyers have maintained is necessary because he is at risk of attack.

He stated to the Saville Inquiry that he had only fired at individuals who were armed.

The statement was dismissed in the final report.

Evidence from the investigation could not be used straightforwardly as evidence in the legal proceedings.

During the trial, the accused was screened from view behind a blue curtain.

He spoke for the first time in the hearing at a hearing in that month, to answer "innocent" when the charges were put to him.

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

One relative, whose sibling was died, said they were aware that attending the case would be difficult.

"I visualize everything in my memory," he said, as we examined the main locations referenced in the case – from the location, where Michael was shot dead, to the adjoining the courtyard, where James Wray and William McKinney were died.

"It returns me to my position that day.

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

"I experienced again every moment during the testimony.

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