🔗 Share this article

January 30th, 1972 stands as arguably the most fatal – and consequential – days throughout three decades of unrest in this area.

Within the community where events unfolded – the images of that fateful day are painted on the walls and seared in public consciousness.

A protest demonstration was organized on a cold but bright afternoon in Londonderry.

The march was a protest against the practice of detention without trial – imprisoning people without trial – which had been put in place after multiple years of violence.

Soldiers from the Parachute Regiment fatally wounded thirteen individuals in the district – which was, and still is, a strongly republican area.

A particular photograph became especially prominent.

Pictures showed a Catholic priest, the priest, using a bloodied white handkerchief while attempting to defend a assembly transporting a teenager, Jackie Duddy, who had been fatally wounded.

Journalists recorded much footage on the day.

Historical records features Fr Daly informing a media representative that troops "gave the impression they would discharge weapons randomly" and he was "completely sure" that there was no provocation for the gunfire.

This account of what happened was disputed by the initial investigation.

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

Throughout the negotiation period, the ruling party established a fresh examination, in response to advocacy by surviving kin, who said Widgery had been a whitewash.

That year, the findings by the inquiry said that on balance, the military personnel had fired first and that none of the victims had been armed.

The contemporary head of state, the leader, expressed regret in the House of Commons – declaring killings were "unjustified and inexcusable."

The police started to examine the matter.

An ex-soldier, identified as Soldier F, was charged for homicide.

Indictments were filed regarding the deaths of James Wray, twenty-two, and 26-year-old the second individual.

Soldier F was also accused of attempting to murder Patrick O'Donnell, additional persons, further individuals, an additional individual, and an unnamed civilian.

There is a judicial decision preserving the veteran's privacy, which his lawyers have argued is necessary because he is at threat.

He stated to the Saville Inquiry that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at people who were armed.

This assertion was dismissed in the final report.

Evidence from the examination was unable to be used directly as testimony in the court case.

During the trial, the veteran was shielded from sight using a blue curtain.

He spoke for the first time in the proceedings at a session in that month, to reply "innocent" when the charges were read.

Kin of those who were killed on that day made the trip from Derry to the courthouse daily of the proceedings.

One relative, whose relative was died, said they always knew that hearing the trial would be difficult.

"I remember everything in my mind's eye," he said, as we walked around the main locations referenced in the case – from the location, where the victim was killed, to the adjoining the area, where one victim and William McKinney were fatally wounded.

"It reminds me to where I was that day.

"I assisted with the victim and put him in the ambulance.

"I experienced again every moment during the testimony.

"Despite having to go through all that – it's still worthwhile for me."