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January 30th, 1972 is remembered as arguably the most deadly – and momentous – days during three decades of conflict in the region.

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

A public gathering was held on a wintry, sunny afternoon in the city.

The march was opposing the practice of detention without trial – imprisoning people without legal proceedings – which had been implemented after three years of unrest.

Military personnel from the specialized division shot dead 13 people in the Bogside area – which was, and remains, a overwhelmingly nationalist community.

A specific visual became particularly iconic.

Pictures showed a religious figure, the priest, waving a blood-stained fabric in his effort to shield a assembly transporting a young man, Jackie Duddy, who had been fatally wounded.

News camera operators recorded extensive video on the day.

Historical records includes Fr Daly informing a reporter that soldiers "just seemed to fire in all directions" and he was "absolutely certain" that there was no justification for the gunfire.

This account of events wasn't accepted by the first inquiry.

The first investigation concluded the soldiers had been fired upon initially.

Throughout the peace process, the ruling party set up a new investigation, after campaigning by bereaved relatives, who said the initial inquiry had been a cover-up.

That year, the report by the investigation said that on balance, the military personnel had initiated shooting and that none of the individuals had posed any threat.

At that time head of state, the leader, issued an apology in the Parliament – saying killings were "unjustified and inexcusable."

Authorities commenced examine the incident.

A military veteran, referred to as the defendant, was brought to trial for homicide.

Accusations were made over the fatalities of the first individual, 22, and twenty-six-year-old another victim.

Soldier F was additionally charged of seeking to harm Patrick O'Donnell, other civilians, further individuals, Michael Quinn, and an unnamed civilian.

There is a judicial decision protecting the defendant's anonymity, which his legal team have maintained is required because he is at threat.

He testified the Saville Inquiry that he had only fired at persons who were possessing firearms.

The statement was disputed in the final report.

Material from the examination was unable to be used directly as proof in the legal proceedings.

In court, the veteran was hidden from public with a blue curtain.

He addressed the court for the opening instance in court at a hearing in that month, to respond "not guilty" when the charges were put to him.

Family members of the victims on that day journeyed from Londonderry to the judicial building each day of the trial.

John Kelly, whose brother Michael was died, said they understood that listening to the case would be difficult.

"I can see all details in my memory," the relative said, as we walked around the primary sites mentioned in the trial – from Rossville Street, where Michael was fatally wounded, to the adjacent Glenfada Park, where James Wray and William McKinney were died.

"It returns me to my position that day.

"I participated in moving the victim and place him in the ambulance.

"I experienced again every moment during the evidence.

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