Republican News · Thursday 7 February 2002

Australia remembers Bloody Sunday

More than 200 people attended a 30th anniversary commemoration of Bloody Sunday at Sydney's Gaelic Club on 27 January, organised by Australian Aid for Ireland. The turnout was all the more impressive given that it was held on a beautiful sunny Sunday long weekend.

As part of the commemoration evening, Bishop David Cremin, assisted by four Irish-born priests, celebrated a Memorial Mass. In his address, Bishop Cremin paid tribute to the families of those murdered in Derry and their campaign for justice. He called on the British Government to ensure that the full truth about the massacre is finally acknowledged.

Among those who attended were some who had taken part in a huge march in Sydney to protest the Bloody Sunday murders 30 years ago. Shay O'Hara, a member of AAI, recalled that it was the biggest march within the Irish community for 50 years.

Those who attended the commemoration evening were invited back the following week for a screening of Jimmy McGovern's docodrama, Sunday. Over 100 people attended. About $1,400 was raised in collections at both events to be passed on to the Bloody Sunday Centre in Derry so the families and friends of those killed know they still have the support of hundreds of people living more than 20,000 kms away in Sydney.