Northern Ireland

Families mark moment 52 years ago when Paratroopers entered Derry’s Bogside on Bloody Sunday

A minute’s silence was held on Tuesday at the Bloody Sunday memorial

Tuesday's service at the Bloody Sunday monument in Derry's Bogside area saw a minute's silence held in memory of the 14 people killed by British paratroopers. PICTURE: MARGARET MCLAUGHLIN
Tuesday's service at the Bloody Sunday monument in Derry's Bogside area saw a minute's silence held in memory of the 14 people killed by British paratroopers. PICTURE: MARGARET MCLAUGHLIN
By Paul Ainsworth

Families of those murdered in Derry on Bloody Sunday have held a service to mark the 52nd anniversary of the massacre.

Tuesday’s event was organised by the Bloody Sunday Trust and a minute’s silence was held at the monument at Rossville Street in the city’s Bogside area at 4pm, the exact time members of the British Army’s Parachute Regiment entered the area on January 30, 1972.

The memorial event was organised by the Bloody Sunday Trust. PICTURE: MARGARET MCLAUGHLIN
The memorial event was organised by the Bloody Sunday Trust. PICTURE: MARGARET MCLAUGHLIN

Thirteen people were shot dead by the soldiers during an anti-internment march and rally, while a 14th victim, John Johnston, died later as a result of his injuries.

Tuesday’s event saw the names of all 14 victims read out by the brother of 17-year-old Michael Kelly, who was among those killed.

The gathering follows a memorial service by the Trust at the monument last Sunday, the same day the annual Bloody Sunday March for Justice was held, retracing the route of the original 1972 march.

Thirteen people were shot dead while attending a civil rights rally on Bloody Sunday and a 14th victim, John Johnston, died later from his injuries.
Thirteen people were shot dead while attending a civil rights rally on Bloody Sunday and a 14th victim died later from his injuries.

Former paratrooper Soldier F is to stand trial for the murder of James Wray and William McKinney on Bloody Sunday, and is also charged with five attempted murders.

Speaking at Tuesday’s event, Bloody Sunday Trust chairperson Tony Doherty, whose father Patrick was among the victims 52 years ago, hit out at the British government’s controversial Troubles Legacy Act that offers conditional immunity from prosecution for Troubles-related offences.

Branding the legislation “shameful”, he said: “While this Act should not affect us, we remain acutely aware of the other families that this terrible Act robs of a sense of truth and justice. This Act has been passed to prevent proper investigation of British crimes here.”