Bloody Sunday

Bloody Sunday. 30 January 1972. , On 30 January 1972, a massive British military operation in Derry's Bogside ended in the murder of thirteen unarmed civil rights demonstrators and the wounding of fifteen others - one of whom died later of his injuries on 16 June 1972., The British army labelled the victims gunmen and bombers. They claimed their soldiers had met a "fusillade of fire". No soldier or vehicle was hit., Derry Coroner Hubert O'Neill later declared the killings "sheer unadulterated murder". The hundreds of civilian eyewitnesses agreed., On 1 February, a public inquiry headed by Lord Chief Justice Widgery was announced by the British Government. Widgery refused to take evidence from the vast majority of civilian eye-witnesses. Soldiers testified anonymously and in disguise. It later emerged that their statements were altered to suit the British version of events., Widgery exonerated the Army. For Free Derry, Widgery confirmed that the entire British establishment stood behind the Bloody Sunday killers., The Bloody Sunday Justice Campaign (BSJC) was founded on the 20th anniversary to demand the repudiation of Widgery; the formal acknowledgement of the innocence of the victims; and the prosecution of those responsible. The relentless family-led BSJC forced the establishment, in 1998, of the new inquiry chaired by Lord Saville., The Bloody Sunday Inquiry published its report on 15 June 2010. Its main conclusion, that all of the dead and wounded were innocent, was greeted with soaring relief and uproarious applause from the thousands gathered in Guildhall Square., A statement on behalf of the Families declared: "The victims have been vindicated. The Parachute Regiment has been disgraced. The truth has been brought home at last. Widgery's great lie has been laid bare.", Some in Derry were dismayed that all blame was ascribed to one officer, Derek Wilford, and a number of rank-and-file soldiers. The Tribunal had followed long tradition in averting its eyes from the possible role of the military and political elite. It was also beyond belief that the report did not clearly find that the nail bombs found on the body of Gerald Donaghey were put there after his death by a member of the security forces., But nothing can diminish the sense of joy that has lifted a darkness from Derry, nor dull the golden success of the Families over seemingly impossible odds., Bloody Sunday wounded Derry deeply. We may hope that our city has now begun to bind up those wounds., , , , , , , , , , , Domhnach na fola 30ú Eanáir 1972 , Ar an 30ú Eanáir 1972, ag deireadh mór-oibríochta míleata Arm na Breataine, dúnmháraíodh 13 léirsitheoir neamharmtha cart sibhialta agus gortaíodh 15 eile - a bhiuair duine acu sin bás de bharr a ghortaithe ar an 16ú Meitheamh 1972., Lipéadaigh Arm na Breataine na híobartaigh gunnadóirí agus buamadóirí. D'éiligh said gur caitheadh "ruathar piléar" ar a gcuid saighdiúirí. Níor bualadh aon saighdiúir nó aon fheithicil., D'fhógair Cróinéir Dhoire Hubert O'Neill níba dhéanaí gur "dúnmhárú glan íon" a bhí sna máraithe. D'aontaigh na céadta finnéithe sibhialtacha súl., Ar an lú feabhra, fógraíodh fiosrúchán poiblí agus an Tiarna Príomh - Bhreitheamh Widgery ina bhun ag Rialtas na Breataine. Dhiúltaigh Widgery fianaise a ghlacadh ó mhórchuid na bhfinnéithe sibhialtacha súl. D'fhianaigh saighdiúiri go diaimn agus faoi bhréagaíocht. Nochtaíodh níba dhéanaí gur athraíodh a ráitis chun cloí le leagan na Breataine den scéal., Shaor Widgery an tArm. Do Dhoire Saor, dheimhnigh Widgery go raibh Bunaíocht iomlán Shasana ag seasamh go daingean taobh thiar de mharfóirí Dhomhnach na fola., Bunaíodh Feachtas Cheartas Dhomhnach na Fola (FCDF) i 1992 chun a éileamh go mbeadh séanadh Widgery; admháil fhoirmeálta ar neamhchiontacht na n-íobartach agus ionchúiseamh díobh siúd a bhí freagrach. Mar gheall ar fheachtas gan staonadh na dteaghlach, bhrúigh FCDF bunú fhiosrúcháin nua i 1998 agus an Tiarna Saville mar chathaoirleach air., D’fhoilsigh Fiosrúchán Dhomhnach na Fola a thuarascáil ar an 15ú Meitheamh 2010. Thug na mílte bailithe i gCearnóg na Cathrach gáir mholta chroíléiseach don phríombchonclúid go raibh na marbh agus gortaithe neamhchiontach., D’fhógair ráiteas thar cheann na dTeaghlach “Saoradh na híobartaigh. Tá an Reisimint Pharaisiúit náirithe. Tugadh an fhírinne abhaile faoi dheireadh. Tá mórbhréag Widgery lomnocht.”, Bhí díomá ar chuid daoine i nDoire gur taisealbhadh an milleán ar fad d’oifigeach amháin, Derek Wilford agus do chuid gnáthshaighdiúirí. Chloígh an Binse le traidisiún fada a shúile a iompú ó ról féidearthach an phlúir mhíleata agus pholaitiúil. Bhí sé thar chreideamh fosta nach bhfuair an tuarascáil go soiléir gur cuireadh na buamaí tairne a fuarthas ar chorp Gerald Donaghey air i ndiaidh a bháis ag ball de na forsaí slándála., Ach ní fhéadfadh aon rud an mothú lúcháire a thóg dorchadas 6 Dhoire a laghdú ná éirí órga na dTeaghlach in aghaidh chorrlach a raibh cuma dosháraithe orthu a mhaolú., Ghoinigh Domhnach na Fola Doire go smior. Beidh dóchas againn go bhfuil ár gcathair ag tosnú anois breid a chur ar na cneácha seo., Bloody Sunday Monument, This monument was unveiled by , Mrs. B. Bond of Derry C.R.A. , on the 26th January 1974 , to the memory of, Patrick J. Doherty .. aged 31 years , Gerald V. Donaghey .. aged 17 years , John F. Duddy .. aged 17 years , Hugh P. Gilmour .. aged 17 years , Michael G. Kelly .. aged 17 years , Michael M. Mc Daid .. aged 20 years , Kevin G. Mc Elhinney .. aged 17 years , Bernard Mc Guigan .. aged 41 years , James G. Mc Kinney .. aged 34 years , William A. Mc Kinney .. aged 27 years , William N. Nash .. aged 19 years , James J. Wray .. aged 22 years , John P. Young .. aged 17 years , And to John Johnston .. aged 59 years , who died later as a result of injuries received that day, who were murdered by British Paratroopers on , Bloody Sunday 30th January 1972, Their epitaph is in the continuing , struggle for democracy.