Bloody Sunday: hundreds pay respects in Derry 50 years after atrocity

Hundreds of people have followed in the footsteps on the original Bloody Sunday civil rights march in Derry, where 50 years ago 13 protesters demanding an end to internment without trial were gunned down by British paratroopers.

Relatives of those killed and injured retraced the route of the march with hundreds of supporters as part of a series of memorial events to mark the 50th anniversary of the killings.

Wreaths were also laid by the city’s Bloody Sunday memorial by the Irish taoiseach, Micheál Martin, the Sinn Féin president, Mary Lou McDonald, and the SDLP leader, Colum Eastwood.

Michael McKinney, whose brother William was killed, criticised the British government for its plans to ban prosecutions for Troubles killings. Addressing the crowd, McKinney said: “The British government intend to announce an end to all legacy investigations.

“They intend to announce it because they’re scared. Scared that their soldiers, spooks and civil servants will be exposed, and that their role as a combatant and catalyst in the war in Ireland will be highlighted around the world.

“They are trying to deny us justice because they are scared to face justice. But we want to send a very clear warning to the British government: if they pursue their proposals, the Bloody Sunday families will be ready to meet them head on.

“We will not go away and we will not be silenced. We will expose them for what they are: an embarrassment to any democracy founded on the rule of law.”

Thirteen civil rights protesters were shot dead by British soldiers on 30 January 1972 in Derry. Another man shot by paratroopers on the day died four months later. While many consider him the 14th victim of Bloody Sunday, his death was formally attributed to an inoperable brain tumour.

The names of those who were killed and injured were read out during the 45-minute memorial service. Afterwards Martin met families at the Museum of Free Derry. He said: “It was a privilege to be here and meet with the families of Bloody Sunday on the 50th anniversary of the terrible atrocity. I thanked them for their extremely dignified, persistent and courageous campaign to pursue universal principles of justice, truth and accountability.”

Martin called for full accountability in all legacy issues. “I don’t believe this will be any amnesty for anybody,” he added. “I believe that the full process and justice of the courts should be deployed. All of the parties in Northern Ireland are very clear that they do not want amnesties, they want due process to apply.

“It is important because time is moving on too for many, many families and families need closure. Families need to know more in terms of who killed their loved ones and they need access to information, and that is why it’s important that agreements are not just entered into, but that are followed through.”

Martin also said it would have been “helpful” if some of the unionist parties were represented at the commemoration event. “I think it’s important that we all recognise others and people who are not from one’s own community, and that would have been helpful,” he said.

The president of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, recorded a special message to the Bloody Sunday families, which was shown during a commemorative event at the Millennium Forum theatre.

His message, which was broadcast on a large screen and live-streamed online, paid tribute to the families’ “relentless pursuit of truth” to vindicate the memories of their loved ones. “Your campaign required overturning those forces who sought to avoid the necessary truth of what took place, and evade accountability,” said Higgins.

The Irish deputy prime minister, or tánaiste, 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 Troubles-related 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.”

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