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Sunday 30 January 1972 stands as among the most fatal – and consequential – dates in three decades of violence in this area.

Within the community where events unfolded – the memories of that fateful day are painted on the structures and etched in public consciousness.

A protest demonstration was conducted on a cold but bright afternoon in Londonderry.

The demonstration was a protest against the system of imprisonment without charges – detaining individuals without due process – which had been put in place in response to three years of unrest.

Soldiers from the specialized division killed 13 people in the district – which was, and remains, a strongly Irish nationalist population.

One image became particularly memorable.

Pictures showed a clergyman, Fr Edward Daly, using a blood-stained fabric in his effort to protect a group carrying a youth, the fatally wounded individual, who had been fatally wounded.

Journalists recorded considerable film on the day.

Documented accounts includes the priest explaining to a journalist that soldiers "appeared to shoot indiscriminately" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no provocation for the discharge of weapons.

This account of the incident was rejected by the first inquiry.

The Widgery Tribunal concluded the military had been shot at first.

In the negotiation period, the administration established another inquiry, after campaigning by bereaved relatives, who said the first investigation had been a whitewash.

In 2010, the report by the inquiry said that overall, the soldiers had initiated shooting and that none of the individuals had posed any threat.

The then Prime Minister, David Cameron, apologised in the government chamber – declaring fatalities were "improper and inexcusable."

The police commenced examine the events.

One former paratrooper, referred to as the defendant, was prosecuted for murder.

Indictments were filed regarding the killings of the first individual, in his twenties, and 26-year-old William McKinney.

The accused was also accused of seeking to harm Patrick O'Donnell, Joseph Friel, more people, Michael Quinn, and an unknown person.

There is a court ruling protecting the defendant's identity protection, which his lawyers have argued is essential because he is at danger.

He told the examination that he had only fired at individuals who were carrying weapons.

That claim was disputed in the final report.

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

During the trial, the defendant was shielded from sight behind a blue curtain.

He spoke for the initial occasion in the proceedings at a proceeding in that month, to answer "not guilty" when the allegations were put to him.

Family members of the deceased on the incident made the trip from Londonderry to Belfast Crown Court each day of the proceedings.

One relative, whose brother Michael was killed, said they always knew that listening to the case would be difficult.

"I remember everything in my recollection," John said, as we examined the main locations discussed in the case – from the location, where the victim was shot dead, to the adjoining the area, where one victim and another victim were died.

"It reminds me to my position that day.

"I assisted with the victim and lay him in the vehicle.

"I went through every moment during the proceedings.

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