🔗 Share this article

January 30th, 1972 stands as among the most fatal – and momentous – occasions in thirty years of conflict in this area.

In the streets where it happened – the memories of the tragic events are painted on the walls and etched in public consciousness.

A civil rights march was conducted on a cold but bright afternoon in the city.

The demonstration was opposing the system of internment – detaining individuals without legal proceedings – which had been implemented in response to three years of unrest.

Soldiers from the elite army unit fatally wounded thirteen individuals in the neighborhood – which was, and remains, a predominantly Irish nationalist area.

One image became especially memorable.

Pictures showed a clergyman, Fr Edward Daly, waving a blood-stained cloth as he tried to protect a crowd carrying a teenager, the fatally wounded individual, who had been killed.

Media personnel documented considerable film on the day.

Historical records contains Father Daly informing a media representative that soldiers "just seemed to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no justification for the discharge of weapons.

This account of the incident was disputed by the initial investigation.

The initial inquiry determined the military had been fired upon initially.

During the resolution efforts, Tony Blair's government commissioned a fresh examination, following pressure by bereaved relatives, who said the first investigation had been a whitewash.

In 2010, the report by the investigation said that generally, the soldiers had initiated shooting and that not one of the victims had posed any threat.

The then Prime Minister, the leader, apologised in the House of Commons – declaring fatalities were "without justification and unjustifiable."

Law enforcement began to look into the incident.

A military veteran, identified as Soldier F, was charged for homicide.

Indictments were filed over the fatalities of James Wray, in his twenties, and 26-year-old another victim.

Soldier F was further implicated of seeking to harm several people, Joseph Friel, more people, another person, and an unknown person.

Remains a court ruling preserving the veteran's identity protection, which his lawyers have argued is required because he is at risk of attack.

He testified the examination that he had solely shot at persons who were carrying weapons.

That claim was dismissed in the final report.

Information from the investigation could not be used straightforwardly as proof in the court case.

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

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

Family members of those who were killed on Bloody Sunday journeyed from the city to the courthouse each day of the proceedings.

One relative, whose brother Michael was died, said they were aware that attending the trial would be emotional.

"I visualize the events in my memory," he said, as we visited the key areas referenced in the trial – from the location, where his brother was shot dead, to the adjacent Glenfada Park, where the individual and the second person were fatally wounded.

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

"I helped to carry Michael and place him in the ambulance.

"I experienced again the entire event during the evidence.

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