Relatives and friends mark the 50 years since Bloody Sunday atrocity
RELATIVES AND friends of those killed and injured on Bloody Sunday followed in the footsteps of their loved ones yesterday to mark the 50th anniversary of the atrocity.
The mood was sombre as the crowd set off from Creggan Shops in Londonderry taking the exact same route which civil rights protesters had done half-acentury earlier.
Their destination was the Bloody Sunday Monument in Rossville Street, where wreaths were laid in memory of the 13 people who were shot dead by British paratroopers on January 30, 1972, as they demonstrated against the policy of internment.
In wake of the killings, senior officials at the Army insisted that the British soldiers had been fired on first.
The claim was only officially refuted 32 years later with the publication of the damning Saville report, which led to the British government apologising for the deaths.
The deputy head of Ireland’s government, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar, said: “Today we remember the 14 innocent people who were killed in Derry 50 years ago on Bloody Sunday.
“The events of that day cast a long shadow over the city and the country that many are still dealing with today.
“We salute the courage and perseverance of the victims and their families who have campaigned tirelessly for justice and who continue to do so today.
“Their tenacity serves as an example to other Troublesrelated victims to never give up the fight for justice.
“We pledge to honour the memory of those who died on Bloody Sunday by standing with all victims of the Troubles and continuing to work for permanent peace on our shared island.”
Yesterday’s memorial service was followed by Beyond the Silence, a series of spoken word and music performances in tribute to those affected by the shootings, hosted by Line of Duty actor Adrian Dunbar.
The event was one of a series taking place over the weekend in memory of the victims, which include another man shot by paratroopers on the day who died four months later.
While John Johnston’s death was officially attributed to an inoperable brain tumour, many consider him the 14th victim of Bloody Sunday.