Bloody Sunday

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LUKE POLLIN                      ASSIGNMENT 1

         Reliability of the sources on Bloody Sunday.

                                   Introduction

The events which occurred in Londonderry on 30th became known as ‘’ Bloody Sunday’’ was a tragic event for the Irish people in 1972. Fourteen innocent civilians were gunned down in this  horrific attack that took place during The Troubles. Feelings of hatred between nationalists and unionists was only fuelled which still lasts today because of it. The Irish people demanded an explanation on why Bloody Sunday happened and were given the Widgery Inquiry not long after the event. The result of this inquiry did not satisfy the Irish people as it cleared the army of all charges and blamed the victims of Bloody Sunday for starting the troubles. Improvements in science and technology as well as the existence of new evidence about what happened on that day have led to a new inquiry being set up by Lord Saville.

                                        Source A

There have been many interpretations about what had happened on that day of Sunday. Sources A and B are extracts from newspapers. They were both written on the same day, yet they have entirely differing viewpoints. Source A is taken from The Daily Mail, which is a conservative newspaper, so therefore it is more likely to be in favour of the opinions of the British Army. When reading it you get the impression that the paratroopers did act in a responsible manner, because they claimed that they were fired upon first and that they had the situation under control although this is not the same perspective of most Irish people. It tries to suggest that it is the victims of Bloody Sunday who caused the event as it mentions an account from one of the officers who was there that day. He claims that they didn’t fire at the marchers until they started throwing missiles and petrol bombs at the army. When it mentions that the paras were fired upon first, you get the impression that the IRA had made a huge contribution to the event.

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This  also says the new inquiry set up by Lord Saville was an ‘absolute disaster’. It tries to suggest to the reader that it is pointless in having this new Inquiry set up. It is obvious that this newspaper is printed for those who support the British Army. It tries to make the reader feel sympathy for the paratroopers and to make them believe it was the victims of Bloody Sunday who created a riot in Derry, not the army and that a suitable solution for a civil unrest like the troubles requires more than just peace talks.

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