🔗 Share this article

January 30th, 1972 stands as arguably the deadliest – and momentous – dates in three decades of conflict in this area.

Within the community of the incident – the legacy of the tragic events are painted on the buildings and etched in people's minds.

A civil rights march was held on a chilly yet clear day in Londonderry.

The march was a protest against the policy of imprisonment without charges – detaining individuals without legal proceedings – which had been implemented following three years of unrest.

Soldiers from the specialized division killed 13 people in the district – which was, and remains, a strongly republican population.

One image became especially prominent.

Photographs showed a religious figure, Father Daly, using a blood-stained fabric while attempting to shield a group carrying a teenager, the fatally wounded individual, who had been mortally injured.

Media personnel captured extensive video on the day.

Documented accounts includes the priest informing a media representative that soldiers "just seemed to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no provocation for the gunfire.

The narrative of events was disputed by the initial investigation.

The Widgery Tribunal determined the Army had been fired upon initially.

During the negotiation period, Tony Blair's government commissioned another inquiry, after campaigning by family members, who said the initial inquiry had been a whitewash.

That year, the findings by the inquiry said that generally, the military personnel had initiated shooting and that none of the individuals had posed any threat.

The contemporary Prime Minister, the Prime Minister, issued an apology in the House of Commons – stating killings were "improper and unacceptable."

The police commenced look into the matter.

An ex-soldier, identified as the accused, was charged for killing.

Accusations were made regarding the fatalities of the first individual, twenty-two, and 26-year-old another victim.

Soldier F was further implicated of seeking to harm multiple individuals, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon, another person, and an unnamed civilian.

There is a judicial decision maintaining the defendant's identity protection, which his attorneys have argued is required because he is at danger.

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

That claim was rejected in the concluding document.

Information from the inquiry was unable to be used straightforwardly as proof in the court case.

In court, the veteran was shielded from sight behind a privacy screen.

He spoke for the initial occasion in the hearing at a proceeding in late 2024, to respond "innocent" when the charges were read.

Family members of those who were killed on that day travelled from Londonderry to Belfast Crown Court each day of the proceedings.

A family member, whose sibling was died, said they understood that hearing the proceedings would be emotional.

"I visualize all details in my recollection," he said, as we examined the primary sites mentioned in the trial – from the street, where Michael was killed, to the adjoining the courtyard, where one victim and the second person were fatally wounded.

"It even takes me back to my location that day.

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

"I experienced again the entire event during the testimony.

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