Brokenshire comments infuriate Bloody Sunday families

Posted by Jim on February 3, 2017

Crowds of local people joined a diverse range of activists and bands at
the Bloody Sunday March for Justice on Sunday. Relatives of those
killed and representatives from the wounded led the march, carrying 14
white crosses to symbolise those who lost their lives on Bloody Sunday.

Under blue skies, the marchers made their along the traditional route
into the Bogside with banners and flags carrying political, human
rights, trade union and environmental messages.

At Free Derry Corner, Damien ‘Bubbles’ Donaghy, who was shot on Bloody
Sunday, read out the names of those killed and wounded on January 30,
1972.

Kate Nash, whose brother William was shot dead on Bloody Sunday, and
whose father Alexander was shot and wounded as he tried to reach his
teenage son, addressed the crowds from the lorry set up in front of
Free Derry Corner.

A rendition of ‘We Shall Overcome’ was performed during the rally at
Free Derry Corner.

Ms Nash said that seven years ago there was attempts to shut the march
down but that did “that did not sit well with us”.

“We felt that the battle had not been won,” she said. “We knew the
Bloody Sunday victims deserved more. Here we are today still on this
platform demanding justice for the families of Bloody Sunday.

“The Bloody Sunday murder investigation has recently been completed and
sent to the Public Prosecution Service. So we await their decision.
Meanwhile the British government are beavering away and talking about
bringing in legislation to protect their soldiers — they don’t believe
old age pensioners should face prosecution.

“One law for them and another one for us. There you have it, a
government that is giving their army a license to murder.”

Ms. Nash referred to others fighting for justice, including the
families of the Ballymurphy victims, the families of Seamus Bradley and
Daniel Hegarty who were killed during Operation Motorman, the family of
Martha Campbell.

“All these innocent people cry out for justice. The list goes on and
on.”

There were cheers and shouts of ‘Free Tony Taylor’ as Ms Nash mentioned
his case.

“He was taken from his family almost a year ago. No reason was given by
the authorities, nor indeed to Tony’s legal representation. No
indication whatever, a clear abuse of power by the British government,
but we are used to that aren’t we?”

Earlier on Sunday, all the Bloody Sunday families came together for a
short commemoration at a monument at Rossville Street in Derry.

During the service, Gerry Duddy, brother of Jackie Duddy, paid tribute
to the people of Derry and those from around the world who have
supported them in their fight for justice over the decades.

“You understood our pain and anguish, you shared our frustration as we
campaigned for truth, you shared our hopes that justice would
eventually prevail,” he said.

“Today we thank our families and supporters far and wide. We could not
have achieved any of this without you.”

Mr Duddy said the families particularly wanted to pay tribute to the
late Bishop Edward Daly “who was a great friend to all of us in the
years since Bloody Sunday and a great strength to the families in times
of need”.

“Bishop Daly will be sorely missed by this city,” Mr Duddy said.

‘PROSECUTIONS MUST GO AHEAD’

He said: “What people fail to realise is that soldiers must be
investigated now because they were never investigated in the past. Over
300 State killings here, only four soldiers were ever convicted of
murder, all of whom were released early, some promoted.

“Elements within the legal system are attempting to protect the very
soldiers who broke the law to murder and maim on Irish soil. We demand
that those who murdered our civilians and loved ones be prosecuted in a
court of law. This responsibility now lies with the Public Prosecution
Service. We say to them do the right thing. Prosecute those who
murdered without guilt or remorse. Justice must be seen to be done. Do
it now.”

Mickey McKinney, whose brother Willie was also murdered on Bloody
Sunday, said that 45 years on, time was a major factor in securing
justice. “I want them in court, and all the other relatives want them
in court,” he said. “Time is marching on. That’s one of the main
factors in the whole process.”

SOLDIERS’ PROTEST

In a provocative act, a number of former British soldiers in the north
of Ireland staged a protest at Westminster on the 45th anniversary of
the 1972 killings. The move was described as offensive by the Bloody
Sunday Trust.

Trust chairman, Robin Percival said the timing of the protest was not
coincidental. “They can’t have failed to notice that the end of January
is the anniversary of one of the most notorious massacres carried out
by their colleagues. The timing is deliberate and is intended to
offend,” he said.

At the protest, soldiers claimed the recent naming of the paratrooper
who in 1971 killed Henry Thornton, an innocent van driver and
father-of-six, and the planned prosecution of two soldiers for the
cold-blooded killing of OIRA Vol. Joe McCann in 1972, are examples of
“bias” against them.

They have also claimed that up to 90% of the PSNI legacy investigations
is focused on killings by the Crown forces — however, figures revealed
this week show such investigations account for only about 30% of the
PSNI legacy workload.

In addition, no member of the Crown forces have been jailed since the
1998 peace deal, although several republicans have been convicted and
imprisoned for pre-1998 offences, or have been interned as a result.

The soldiers’ claims were controversially backed up by Britain’s
governor in the North of Ireland. James Brokenshire wrote in a
newspaper column that investigations into killings during the conflict
are “disproportionately” focusing on members of the Crown forces.

His comments appear to reflect a harder line in recent weeks by his
government in the wake of the collapse of the powersharing institutions
at Stormont. It was also apparent in a deliberate snub by the British
Direct Ruler at a Gaelic sports event when he was seen to avoid beng
present during the playing of the Irish national anthem.

John Kelly, whose 17-year-old brother Michael was shot dead when the
parachute regiment opened fire in Derry on 30 January 1972, described
Brokenshire’s comments as scandalous.

“Over 300 civilians have been murdered by the British Army over the
years and out of those 300 cases only four soldiers have ever been
prosecuted for any wrongdoing,” he said.

“It baffles me when the Secretary of State, who supposedly represents
all the people of this part of the world, comes out with a scandalous
statement like that, he should be ashamed of himself.”