BLOODY SUNDAY: 50 Years Later

January 30, 1972…

January 30, 2022…

   Most times while holding my first pint of Guinness in a pub I look skyward, nod in silent tribute to my relatives from the “old sod” and softly mumble, “Fuxx The Crown”. One asks,“Why would you curse out The Crown?”. Here’s just one of many,many reasons. Fifty years ago,13 innocent Irish civilians of County Derry were shot dead by members of the British Army’s Parachute Regiment (The Crown) at a march protesting internment without trial. A 14th victim died months later.

   This past Sunday, January 30, the 50th Anniversary of “Bloody Sunday” a “Families’ Walk of Remembrance “was held starting off from Creggan shops and ending at the Bloody Sunday Monument. Children in the procession were holding a white rose for each of the 14 victims, while other family members carried photographs of their lost loved ones. At the monument a ceremony was held and  the cathedral bells tolled 14 times at 4:10pm — the time the killings began 50 years ago.

“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.””Very painfully, the Bloody Sunday families were denied for too long the truth about what happened to their loved ones,” said Archbishop Martin.”Sadly, they are not alone — a whole legacy of heartbreak and with it a dark shadow of secrecy still hangs over much of our troubled past.”

In total twenty-six (26) unarmed Irish citizens were shot, 14 of the 26 died. The British Army’s Parachute Regiment said those shot were armed or were “bomb throwers” which proved to be totally false during two separate investigations into the Bogside Massacre. It was proven that  NOT ONE WAS ARMED.The casualties are listed (Wiki) in the order in which they were killed. R.I.P.

  • John “Jackie” Duddy, age 17. Shot as he ran away from soldiers
  • Michael Kelly, age 17. Shot in the stomach while standing at the rubble barricade on Rossville Street.
  • Hugh Gilmour, age 17. Shot as he ran away from soldiers near the rubble barricade.
  • William Nash, age 19. Shot in the chest at the rubble barricade. Three people were shot while apparently going to his aid, including his father Alexander Nash.
  • John Young, age 17. Shot in the face at the rubble barricade, apparently while crouching and going to the aid of William Nash.
  • Michael McDaid, age 20. Shot in the face at the rubble barricade, apparently while crouching and going to the aid of William Nash.
  • Kevin McElhinney, age 17. Shot from behind, near the rubble barricade, while attempting to crawl to safety.
  • James “Jim” Wray, age 22. Shot in the back while running away from soldiers in Glenfada Park courtyard. He was then shot again in the back as he lay mortally wounded on the ground. Witnesses, who were not called to the Widgery Tribunal, stated that Wray was calling out that he could not move his legs before he was shot the second time.
  • William McKinney, age 26. Shot in the back as he attempted to flee through Glenfada Park courtyard.
  • Gerard “Gerry” McKinney, age 35. Shot in the chest at Abbey Park. A soldier, identified as ‘Private G’, ran through an alleyway from Glenfada Park and shot him from a few yards away. Witnesses said that when he saw the soldier, McKinney stopped and held up his arms, shouting, “Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot!”, before being shot. The bullet apparently went through his body and struck Gerard Donaghy behind him.
  • Gerard “Gerry” Donaghy age 17. Shot in the stomach at Abbey Park while standing behind Gerard McKinney. Both were apparently struck by the same bullet.
  • Patrick Doherty, age 31. Shot from behind while attempting to crawl to safety in the forecourt of Rossville Flats.[2][66]
  • Bernard “Barney” McGuigan, age 41. Shot in the back of the head when he walked out from cover to help Patrick Doherty. He had been waving a white handkerchief to indicate his peaceful intentions. 
  • John Johnston, age 59. Shot in the leg and left shoulder on William Street fifteen minutes before the rest of the shooting started.

“Give Ireland back to the Irish”…

26+6=1

The “Six” counties of the North held hostage by the British: Fermanagh, Derry, Antrim, Tyrone, Down, Armagh.