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January 30th, 1972 remains arguably the most fatal – and consequential – days in multiple decades of conflict in Northern Ireland.

Throughout the area of the incident – the legacy of the tragic events are visible on the buildings and seared in collective memory.

A civil rights march was organized on a wintry, sunny period in the city.

The protest was challenging the practice of imprisonment without charges – holding suspects without trial – which had been established in response to multiple years of violence.

Troops from the elite army unit fatally wounded thirteen individuals in the neighborhood – which was, and remains, a overwhelmingly nationalist population.

One image became especially memorable.

Pictures showed a clergyman, the priest, using a blood-stained cloth in his effort to shield a assembly moving a youth, Jackie Duddy, who had been fatally wounded.

Journalists captured extensive video on the day.

Historical records features Father Daly explaining to a media representative that military personnel "appeared to shoot indiscriminately" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no justification for the discharge of weapons.

The narrative of the incident wasn't accepted by the original examination.

The first investigation determined the soldiers had been fired upon initially.

In the resolution efforts, the ruling party commissioned a new investigation, following pressure by bereaved relatives, who said the first investigation had been a inadequate investigation.

That year, the conclusion by the inquiry said that overall, the military personnel had initiated shooting and that none of the victims had been armed.

At that time head of state, the Prime Minister, expressed regret in the government chamber – saying deaths were "unjustified and unacceptable."

Law enforcement commenced examine the matter.

One former paratrooper, known as the defendant, was prosecuted for killing.

Indictments were filed over the fatalities of James Wray, in his twenties, and in his mid-twenties William McKinney.

The defendant was further implicated of trying to kill Patrick O'Donnell, additional persons, Joe Mahon, Michael Quinn, and an unnamed civilian.

There is a court ruling preserving the defendant's privacy, which his attorneys have maintained is necessary because he is at risk of attack.

He told the investigation that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at people who were carrying weapons.

This assertion was dismissed in the official findings.

Information from the investigation could not be used immediately as evidence in the criminal process.

In court, the accused was screened from view with a blue curtain.

He made statements for the initial occasion in the hearing at a session in that month, to reply "not guilty" when the accusations were presented.

Relatives of those who were killed on the incident travelled from Londonderry to the courthouse daily of the proceedings.

One relative, whose relative was fatally wounded, said they understood that hearing the proceedings would be painful.

"I visualize the events in my recollection," the relative said, as we visited the key areas mentioned in the proceedings – from Rossville Street, where Michael was shot dead, to the nearby the courtyard, where James Wray and the second person were died.

"It returns me to my location that day.

"I participated in moving the victim and put him in the medical transport.

"I experienced again every moment during the evidence.

"Despite enduring all that – it's still valuable for me."