Derry protesters injured
by Martha McClelland
A protest in Derry last Saturday against the expulsion
of Sinn Fein from the talks resulted in near tragedy
when a car went out of control next to demonstrators.
It ploughed into six or seven protesters, leaving three
in hospital, including Councillor Mary Nelis.
One woman was dragged under the car, although
fortunately not under the wheels. Another woman
suffered facial injuries. Councillor Nelis is still in
hospital with leg injuries. The woman driver of the car
was extremely upset and required treatment for shock.
The unfortunate accident took place after a week of
street protests in Derry, which included white line
pickets in Shipquay Street, rallies in Waterloo Square,
a protest at the city Courthouse, and one which blocked
the Expressway. The protest at the Courthouse coincided
with the re-opening of the 180 year old Crown
installation following two IRA bombs inside the
high-security area seven years ago left it requiring a
£7m `facelift'.
Nearly 100 Sinn Fein members staged a protest when top
British judicial figure, the Lord Chancellor, Lord
Irvine, visited the city to re-open the building. Other
notorious figures including Lord Carswell and Sir
Alistair Frazer, the Director of Public Prosecutions,
were in Derry while Councillor Nelis told protesters
that ``while the facade of the building may have
improved, the corrupt nature of the Six County judicial
system remains unaltered, a bedrock of bigotry and
injustice for 75 years.''
Derry traders hit out at the `security measures' which
resulted in the loss of a full day's trade for the
second time in a week due to events surrounding the
re-opening of the courthouse.
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