🔗 Share this article

Sunday 30 January 1972 remains among the most fatal – and significant – occasions during thirty years of violence in Northern Ireland.

Within the community of the incident – the memories of that fateful day are painted on the structures and seared in people's minds.

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

The march was opposing the practice of detention without trial – imprisoning people without trial – which had been implemented following an extended period of conflict.

Soldiers from the elite army unit fatally wounded 13 people in the neighborhood – which was, and remains, a overwhelmingly republican area.

A particular photograph became notably prominent.

Photographs showed a clergyman, Father Daly, using a blood-stained white handkerchief while attempting to shield a assembly moving a youth, the injured teenager, who had been fatally wounded.

News camera operators documented much footage on the day.

Historical records contains the priest informing a media representative that soldiers "appeared to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no justification for the gunfire.

The narrative of what happened wasn't accepted by the initial investigation.

The initial inquiry concluded the military had been shot at first.

In the negotiation period, Tony Blair's government established a new investigation, after campaigning by surviving kin, who said the initial inquiry had been a whitewash.

That year, the report by Lord Saville said that overall, the soldiers had fired first and that not one of the casualties had been armed.

The then Prime Minister, the Prime Minister, expressed regret in the Parliament – declaring killings were "improper and unacceptable."

Authorities commenced examine the matter.

A military veteran, referred to as the defendant, was prosecuted for murder.

Accusations were made regarding the deaths of one victim, in his twenties, and in his mid-twenties William McKinney.

Soldier F was also accused of trying to kill several people, other civilians, further individuals, Michael Quinn, and an unnamed civilian.

Remains a court ruling maintaining the soldier's anonymity, which his legal team have argued is essential because he is at threat.

He testified the investigation that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at people who were armed.

The statement was rejected in the concluding document.

Evidence from the investigation would not be used directly as proof in the criminal process.

In the dock, the defendant was hidden from public with a blue curtain.

He addressed the court for the opening instance in the hearing at a hearing in late 2024, to reply "not guilty" when the allegations were read.

Relatives of those who were killed on that day journeyed from Derry to Belfast Crown Court each day of the trial.

John Kelly, whose sibling was killed, said they were aware that listening to the proceedings would be emotional.

"I can see the events in my memory," John said, as we examined the key areas referenced in the case – from the location, where the victim was killed, to the adjoining the courtyard, where the individual and the second person were killed.

"It reminds me to where I was that day.

"I helped to carry the victim and lay him in the medical transport.

"I went through each detail during the proceedings.

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