🔗 Share this article

January 30th, 1972 remains arguably the deadliest – and significant – days in thirty years of unrest in this area.

In the streets where events unfolded – the memories of the tragic events are visible on the buildings and etched in collective memory.

A public gathering was organized on a wintry, sunny day in Derry.

The demonstration was opposing the practice of detention without trial – detaining individuals without legal proceedings – which had been implemented following three years of conflict.

Troops from the elite army unit killed multiple civilians in the Bogside area – which was, and remains, a strongly nationalist population.

One image became particularly iconic.

Pictures showed a religious figure, Father Daly, using a blood-stained fabric in his effort to protect a crowd moving a youth, Jackie Duddy, who had been fatally wounded.

Media personnel captured much footage on the day.

The archive contains the priest explaining to a journalist that soldiers "just seemed to shoot indiscriminately" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no justification for the gunfire.

That version of events was rejected by the first inquiry.

The Widgery Tribunal concluded the military had been attacked first.

In the peace process, Tony Blair's government established a fresh examination, after campaigning by surviving kin, who said the first investigation had been a cover-up.

That year, the findings by the investigation said that on balance, the paratroopers had fired first and that zero among the individuals had posed any threat.

At that time head of state, the leader, expressed regret in the government chamber – saying killings were "without justification and unacceptable."

Law enforcement started to look into the incident.

One former paratrooper, referred to as the defendant, was brought to trial for killing.

He was charged regarding the deaths of the first individual, twenty-two, and twenty-six-year-old another victim.

The accused was also accused of attempting to murder Patrick O'Donnell, other civilians, more people, an additional individual, and an unnamed civilian.

There is a legal order maintaining the defendant's privacy, which his lawyers have maintained is essential because he is at threat.

He testified the Saville Inquiry that he had solely shot at individuals who were possessing firearms.

The statement was disputed in the official findings.

Information from the inquiry would not be used directly as evidence in the criminal process.

In court, the defendant was screened from view behind a privacy screen.

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

Relatives of those who were killed on the incident journeyed from the city to the judicial building daily of the proceedings.

A family member, whose sibling was fatally wounded, said they were aware that listening to the proceedings would be emotional.

"I can see all details in my recollection," he said, as we visited the main locations referenced in the proceedings – from the street, where Michael was killed, to the nearby the area, where one victim and the second person were fatally wounded.

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

"I participated in moving the victim and put him in the vehicle.

"I experienced again every moment during the testimony.

"But even with experiencing everything – it's still worthwhile for me."