BLOODY SUNDAY
On 30th January 1972, 13 Catholics were killed when soldiers of a British paratroop regiment opened fire during a civil rights march in Londonderry. The day became known as Bloody Sunday. Its impact led to a resurgence of violent opposition to the British presence in Northern Ireland. Although the details of what took place that day remain controversial, many of the basic facts are not disputed, 14 people had been killed etc.
The demonstration was held in protest at the policy of internment without trial. It was organised by the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association. About 10,000 people gathered in the Creggan Estate planning to walk to Guildhall Square in the centre of the city, where a rally would be held. The march itself was illegal because the Stormont Parliament had banned all such protests.
There have been two investigations into what actually happened. The first in 1972 by Lord Widgery and one taking place at this moment by Lord Saville. The inquiry by Lord Widgery reported that the paratroopers' firing had "bordered on the reckless". It also concluded the soldiers had been fired upon first and some of the victims had handled weapons.
Both sides used his report to support their views. Widgery, at that moment in time, according to Lord Saville didn't have sufficient evidence to point the finger of blame clearly to one side. The evidence which was extracted could've have been contaminated from 'foreign' substances. For example, gun powder was found on the victim's hands, this could have been from genuinely handling gun powder. Or on the other hand when the bodies were loaded into the trucks, the gas emissions from the truck itself could have contained substances used to make gun powder. Another key factor was that Lord Widgery had been told to sufficiently hurry the inquiry so that that the matter would be "buried as quickly as possible". Rushing of the report meant compromising proper justice.
On 30th January 1972, 13 Catholics were killed when soldiers of a British paratroop regiment opened fire during a civil rights march in Londonderry. The day became known as Bloody Sunday. Its impact led to a resurgence of violent opposition to the British presence in Northern Ireland. Although the details of what took place that day remain controversial, many of the basic facts are not disputed, 14 people had been killed etc.
The demonstration was held in protest at the policy of internment without trial. It was organised by the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association. About 10,000 people gathered in the Creggan Estate planning to walk to Guildhall Square in the centre of the city, where a rally would be held. The march itself was illegal because the Stormont Parliament had banned all such protests.
There have been two investigations into what actually happened. The first in 1972 by Lord Widgery and one taking place at this moment by Lord Saville. The inquiry by Lord Widgery reported that the paratroopers' firing had "bordered on the reckless". It also concluded the soldiers had been fired upon first and some of the victims had handled weapons.
Both sides used his report to support their views. Widgery, at that moment in time, according to Lord Saville didn't have sufficient evidence to point the finger of blame clearly to one side. The evidence which was extracted could've have been contaminated from 'foreign' substances. For example, gun powder was found on the victim's hands, this could have been from genuinely handling gun powder. Or on the other hand when the bodies were loaded into the trucks, the gas emissions from the truck itself could have contained substances used to make gun powder. Another key factor was that Lord Widgery had been told to sufficiently hurry the inquiry so that that the matter would be "buried as quickly as possible". Rushing of the report meant compromising proper justice.
