🔗 Share this article

January 30th, 1972 is remembered as arguably the deadliest – and significant – days during thirty years of violence in Northern Ireland.

In the streets of the incident – the memories of the tragic events are painted on the buildings and seared in public consciousness.

A civil rights march was held on a chilly yet clear period in the city.

The march was challenging the policy of internment – imprisoning people without legal proceedings – which had been put in place in response to three years of conflict.

Military personnel from the Parachute Regiment shot dead thirteen individuals in the district – which was, and remains, a overwhelmingly nationalist community.

A specific visual became notably memorable.

Images showed a clergyman, Father Daly, using a stained with blood cloth while attempting to shield a group moving a youth, the fatally wounded individual, who had been fatally wounded.

Journalists recorded much footage on the day.

Documented accounts includes the priest explaining to a reporter that soldiers "appeared to fire in all directions" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no provocation for the gunfire.

That version of what happened was disputed by the original examination.

The Widgery Tribunal determined the soldiers had been attacked first.

In the negotiation period, Tony Blair's government set up a fresh examination, after campaigning by bereaved relatives, who said Widgery had been a inadequate investigation.

That year, the findings by the investigation said that overall, the soldiers had discharged weapons initially and that not one of the casualties had posed any threat.

At that time Prime Minister, David Cameron, apologised in the Parliament – declaring fatalities were "improper and inexcusable."

Law enforcement commenced investigate the events.

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

He was charged concerning the fatalities of one victim, twenty-two, and twenty-six-year-old the second individual.

The defendant was additionally charged of seeking to harm several people, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon, an additional individual, and an unknown person.

Exists a judicial decision protecting the soldier's privacy, which his attorneys have claimed is necessary because he is at danger.

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

The statement was rejected in the final report.

Information from the investigation was unable to be used directly as testimony in the court case.

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

He made statements for the initial occasion in the proceedings at a proceeding in December 2024, to respond "not responsible" when the accusations were put to him.

Family members of the victims on that day made the trip from the city to the judicial building daily of the trial.

A family member, whose brother Michael was died, said they were aware that hearing the proceedings would be difficult.

"I remember all details in my mind's eye," the relative said, as we examined the main locations referenced in the proceedings – from the location, where his brother was shot dead, to the nearby Glenfada Park, where the individual and the second person were fatally wounded.

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

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

"I went through every moment during the testimony.

"Notwithstanding experiencing the process – it's still meaningful for me."