🔗 Share this article

January 30th, 1972 remains one of the deadliest – and momentous – occasions in thirty years of violence in Northern Ireland.

Within the community where events unfolded – the memories of the tragic events are displayed on the walls and embedded in collective memory.

A civil rights march was conducted on a cold but bright day in Londonderry.

The protest was challenging the policy of detention without trial – detaining individuals without legal proceedings – which had been established following an extended period of conflict.

Military personnel from the elite army unit fatally wounded multiple civilians in the district – which was, and continues to be, a predominantly republican area.

A particular photograph became particularly prominent.

Pictures showed a Catholic priest, Father Daly, waving a stained with blood white handkerchief in his effort to shield a group transporting a teenager, the fatally wounded individual, who had been mortally injured.

Media personnel documented extensive video on the day.

The archive includes Fr Daly explaining to a reporter that soldiers "gave the impression they would shoot indiscriminately" and he was "totally convinced" that there was no reason for the discharge of weapons.

That version of events was rejected by the initial investigation.

The first investigation concluded the soldiers had been attacked first.

In the peace process, the ruling party established a fresh examination, in response to advocacy by bereaved relatives, who said the initial inquiry had been a whitewash.

In 2010, the report by the investigation said that generally, the military personnel had initiated shooting and that zero among the victims had presented danger.

At that time Prime Minister, the Prime Minister, expressed regret in the House of Commons – saying killings were "unjustified and unjustifiable."

Authorities began to examine the incident.

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

Indictments were filed over the fatalities of one victim, in his twenties, and 26-year-old William McKinney.

The defendant was additionally charged of seeking to harm Patrick O'Donnell, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon, Michael Quinn, and an unidentified individual.

Exists a legal order protecting the veteran's anonymity, which his lawyers have maintained is required because he is at threat.

He told the investigation that he had exclusively discharged his weapon at people who were carrying weapons.

The statement was rejected in the concluding document.

Material from the examination could not be used directly as proof in the legal proceedings.

In the dock, the veteran was screened from view behind a protective barrier.

He addressed the court for the opening instance in the proceedings at a proceeding in late 2024, to answer "innocent" when the accusations were presented.

Family members of those who were killed on that day journeyed from the city to the courthouse daily of the trial.

John Kelly, whose relative was died, said they were aware that hearing the proceedings would be painful.

"I visualize the events in my memory," the relative said, as we visited the key areas referenced in the proceedings – from the street, where the victim was killed, to the adjoining Glenfada Park, where one victim and the second person were killed.

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

"I participated in moving my brother and lay him in the ambulance.

"I relived the entire event during the evidence.

"Despite having to go through the process – it's still meaningful for me."