Hope and expectation
By Frances McGinley
Relatives of those who died on Bloody Sunday gathered
at McCool's shop in William Street on Friday morning
for a symbolic march to the Guildhall prior to the
opening of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry.
The relatives of the dead and those who were wounded
then made their way to the Guildhall to complete the
ill-fated march that had started twenty-six years ago.
As they entered the Guildhall, a nervous whispering and
shuffling of feet were the only sounds to be heard as
people expectantly waited on the panel who will conduct
this inquiry.
Throughout Lord Saville's address the relatives sat
quietly taking in every word. After Lord Saville
finished, they gathered together to discuss what had
been said. Many expressed reservations about the
question of immunity, but on the whole the families
were willing to give the terms of the inquiry a
cautious welcome.
When the launch ended, the three judges visited the
site of the shootings. Shoppers and passersby stood in
amazement as the large crowd made their way to the
Bloody Sunday monument. The tour was not without its
ironic moments. The three men unwittingly posed for a
photocall in front of a mural which demanded an end to
``British Injustice''. Later they were escorted on to
what is left of Walkers Pillar by Apprentice boy
Alastair Simpson.
When the tour ended the families had time to stand back
and digest the day's events. No one at this stage knows
how this inquiry will develop, but the families
sincerely hope that perhaps this inquiry will finally
expose the real truth of the events of that fatal day.
![[An Phoblacht]](http://republican-news.org/graphics/title_gifs/aprn.gif)