Republican News · Thursday 22 January 1998

Noraid to confront Black Watch

By Christy Mac An Bhaird

Gerry Coleman, Noraid's director of political education, has called on all supporters of peace with justice in Ireland to protest the upcoming US tour of "The Black Watch," a British Army regiment that has done 11 tours in the Six Counties and is responsible for nearly a dozen deaths of Irish nationalists.

"Most Americans see the Black Watch as simply a bagpipe band," said Coleman, "but they are something very different to the people of British-occupied Ireland."

The Black Watch band began its US tour in Orange, Texas, on 17 January, and will travel around the country, ending its tour in West Palm Beach, Florida, on 24 March. Noraid units around the country are already planning protests at a number of venues.

Coleman said he was outraged to learn of reports that the Black Watch may play at the White House.

"This force is responsible for the deaths of nearly a dozen Irish people, including a number shot by snipers during the infamous Falls Curfew in July 1970, when photojournalist Zbigniew Uglik was killed by the Black Watch and his body mutilated by soldiers," said Coleman.

"I urge everyone to show their disdain for this British Army regiment by protesting [against] their visit to America."

Irish people murdered by the Black Watch:

Patrick Killman     July 1970   West Belfast

William Burns       July 1970   West Belfast

Charles O'Neill     July 1970   West Belfast

Zbigniew Uglik      July 1970   West Belfast

Davis Thompson      Oct. 1971   East Belfast

Maura Meehan        Oct. 1971   West Belfast

Dorothy Maguire     Oct. 1971   West Belfast

Michael McLarnon    Oct. 1971   North Belfast

John Copeland       Oct. 1971   North Belfast

Christopher Quinn   Nov. 1971   Central Belfast

Joseph Parker       Nov. 1971   North Belfast

Patrick Eillott     Dec. 1982   West Belfast

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