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.
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Domhnach na fola 30? Ean?ir 1972Ar an 30? Ean?ir 1972, ag deireadh m?r-oibr?ochta m?leata Arm na Breataine, d?nmh?ra?odh 13 l?irsitheoir neamharmtha cart sibhialta agus gorta?odh 15 eile - a bhiuair duine acu sin b de bharr a ghortaithe ar an 16? Meitheamh 1972.
Lip?adaigh Arm na Breataine na h?obartaigh gunnad?ir? agus buamad?ir?. D'?iligh said gur caitheadh "ruathar pil?ar" ar a gcuid saighdi?ir?. N?or bualadh aon saighdi?ir n? aon fheithicil.
D'fh?gair Cr?in?ir Dhoire Hubert O'Neill n?ba dh?ana? gur "d?nmh?r? glan ?on" a bh? sna m?raithe. D'aontaigh na c?adta finn?ithe sibhialtacha s?l.
Ar an l? feabhra, f?gra?odh fiosr?ch?n poibl? agus an Tiarna Pr?omh - Bhreitheamh Widgery ina bhun ag Rialtas na Breataine. Dhi?ltaigh Widgery fianaise a ghlacadh ? mh?rchuid na bhfinn?ithe sibhialtacha s?l. D'fhianaigh saighdi?iri go diaimn agus faoi bhr?aga?ocht. Nochta?odh n?ba dh?ana? gur athra?odh a r?itis chun clo? le leagan na Breataine den sc?al.
Shaor Widgery an tArm. Do Dhoire Saor, dheimhnigh Widgery go raibh Buna?ocht ioml?n Shasana ag seasamh go daingean taobh thiar de mharf?ir? Dhomhnach na fola.
Buna?odh Feachtas Cheartas Dhomhnach na Fola (FCDF) i 1992 chun a ?ileamh go mbeadh s?anadh Widgery; admh?il fhoirme?lta ar neamhchiontacht na n-?obartach agus ionch?iseamh d?obh si?d a bh? freagrach. Mar gheall ar fheachtas gan staonadh na dteaghlach, bhr?igh FCDF bun? fhiosr?ch?in nua i 1998 agus an Tiarna Saville mar chathaoirleach air.
D'fhoilsigh Fiosr?ch?n Dhomhnach na Fola a thuarasc?il ar an 15? Meitheamh 2010. Thug na m?lte bailithe i gCearn?g na Cathrach g?ir mholta chro?l?iseach don phr?ombchoncl?id go raibh na marbh agus gortaithe neamhchiontach.
D'fh?gair r?iteas thar cheann na dTeaghlach "Saoradh na h?obartaigh. T? an Reisimint Pharaisi?it n?irithe. Tugadh an fh?rinne abhaile faoi dheireadh. T? m?rbhr?ag Widgery lomnocht."
Bh? d?om? ar chuid daoine i nDoire gur taisealbhadh an mille?n ar fad d'oifigeach amh?in, Derek Wilford agus do chuid gn?thshaighdi?ir?. Chlo?gh an Binse le traidisi?n fada a sh?ile a iomp? ? r?l f?idearthach an phl?ir mh?leata agus pholaiti?il. Bh? s? thar chreideamh fosta nach bhfuair an tuarasc?il go soil?ir gur cuireadh na buama? tairne a fuarthas ar chorp Gerald Donaghey air i ndiaidh a bh?is ag ball de na forsa? sl?nd?la.
Ach n? fh?adfadh aon rud an moth? l?ch?ire a th?g dorchadas 6 Dhoire a laghd? n? ?ir? ?rga na dTeaghlach in aghaidh chorrlach a raibh cuma dosh?raithe orthu a mhaol?.
Ghoinigh Domhnach na Fola Doire go smior. Beidh d?chas againn go bhfuil ?r gcathair ag tosn? anois breid a chur ar na cne?cha 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
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