🔗 Share this article

Sunday 30 January 1972 is remembered as one of the deadliest – and momentous – dates throughout thirty years of violence in this area.

Throughout the area where it happened – the legacy of that fateful day are visible on the buildings and seared in public consciousness.

A public gathering was conducted on a cold but bright period in the city.

The demonstration was challenging the system of imprisonment without charges – imprisoning people without due process – which had been established after three years of conflict.

Soldiers from the elite army unit killed multiple civilians in the neighborhood – which was, and remains, a strongly Irish nationalist area.

A specific visual became especially iconic.

Images showed a religious figure, Fr Edward Daly, displaying a blood-stained fabric while attempting to shield a crowd carrying a young man, the fatally wounded individual, who had been fatally wounded.

Journalists documented considerable film on the day.

Documented accounts contains the priest explaining to a media representative that troops "just seemed to fire in all directions" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no reason for the gunfire.

The narrative of events wasn't accepted by the initial investigation.

The initial inquiry determined the Army had been fired upon initially.

In the peace process, Tony Blair's government established a new investigation, following pressure by bereaved relatives, who said the initial inquiry had been a cover-up.

That year, the conclusion by Lord Saville said that on balance, the military personnel had discharged weapons initially and that zero among the victims had posed any threat.

The then head of state, the Prime Minister, apologised in the government chamber – stating killings were "improper and inexcusable."

Law enforcement began to look into the matter.

An ex-soldier, known as the defendant, was charged for homicide.

Indictments were filed over the killings of one victim, 22, and twenty-six-year-old William McKinney.

The defendant was also accused of trying to kill Patrick O'Donnell, other civilians, more people, an additional individual, and an unknown person.

Exists a legal order maintaining the soldier's privacy, which his legal team have maintained is essential because he is at danger.

He told the investigation that he had solely shot at people who were armed.

This assertion was disputed in the official findings.

Evidence from the inquiry would not be used straightforwardly as testimony in the court case.

During the trial, the veteran was hidden from public using a privacy screen.

He made statements for the opening instance in the proceedings at a hearing in late 2024, to reply "innocent" when the accusations were put to him.

Kin of those who were killed on the incident journeyed from Londonderry to Belfast Crown Court every day of the proceedings.

One relative, whose relative was died, said they were aware that listening to the proceedings would be painful.

"I remember everything in my memory," he said, as we visited the key areas discussed in the proceedings – from Rossville Street, where Michael was shot dead, to the nearby the courtyard, where one victim and William McKinney were fatally wounded.

"It reminds me to my location that day.

"I helped to carry my brother and put him in the medical transport.

"I relived every moment during the testimony.

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