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January 30th, 1972 is remembered as among the deadliest – and momentous – occasions throughout thirty years of violence in the region.

In the streets where events unfolded – the legacy of the tragic events are painted on the walls and embedded in people's minds.

A protest demonstration was organized on a wintry, sunny period in Londonderry.

The protest was challenging the practice of imprisonment without charges – holding suspects without trial – which had been put in place following three years of unrest.

Soldiers from the Parachute Regiment fatally wounded thirteen individuals in the district – which was, and remains, a overwhelmingly Irish nationalist community.

One image became especially iconic.

Images showed a religious figure, the priest, displaying a bloodied cloth in his effort to defend a group carrying a young man, the fatally wounded individual, who had been mortally injured.

Media personnel documented extensive video on the day.

Documented accounts contains the priest informing a journalist that troops "appeared to discharge weapons randomly" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no reason for the gunfire.

This account of events was disputed by the initial investigation.

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

Throughout the negotiation period, the administration set up a fresh examination, after campaigning by surviving kin, who said the initial inquiry had been a inadequate investigation.

That year, the conclusion by the investigation said that generally, the soldiers had fired first and that none of the victims had presented danger.

The then government leader, the Prime Minister, expressed regret in the government chamber – stating deaths were "without justification and unjustifiable."

The police began to look into the incident.

One former paratrooper, known as Soldier F, was brought to trial for homicide.

He was charged regarding the killings of the first individual, in his twenties, and in his mid-twenties another victim.

The accused was also accused of attempting to murder multiple individuals, other civilians, Joe Mahon, Michael Quinn, and an unidentified individual.

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

He stated to the examination that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at individuals who were carrying weapons.

That claim was dismissed in the official findings.

Evidence from the examination would not be used directly as testimony in the legal proceedings.

In the dock, the veteran was hidden from public using a protective barrier.

He made statements for the initial occasion in the proceedings at a proceeding in that month, to reply "not guilty" when the charges were presented.

Kin of those who were killed on the incident made the trip from Derry to Belfast Crown Court every day of the case.

John Kelly, whose sibling was killed, said they always knew that attending the trial would be difficult.

"I visualize all details in my mind's eye," the relative said, as we walked around the key areas mentioned in the proceedings – from Rossville Street, where the victim was shot dead, to the nearby the courtyard, where one victim and William McKinney were died.

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

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

"I relived each detail during the proceedings.

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