Thousands march for justice

Several thousand marchers in Derry have heard fresh demands that those responsible for the Bloody Sunday massacre be held accountable for their actions.

The annual commemoration organised by families of the dead and wounded took place last weekend in Derry.

Speaking to the rally, former civil rights leader Bernadette Mcaliskey echoed calls for a criminal investigation to begin by interviewing former British soldiers.

Her appeal followed news that the PSNI police are seeking to interview more than 1,000 people who gave evidence to the Saville Inquiry -- but have still not questioned the British paratroopers who carried out the killings.

The former Westminster MP was one of the speakers on the original 1972 march at which peaceful anti-internment protestors were gunned down.

“If I were the PSNI, I would start with the accused,” she said. “I would actually start with the soldiers - that would save a lot of time and a lot of effort and a lot of money.

“I have a sneaky suspicion that if you started with the foot soldiers who are currently carrying the blame and carrying the can for the whole British establishment, they might plead guilty on the spot and start to talk about who actually said what to whom and who bears responsibility.”

But, she added, she would “not be holding my breath for justice”.

Earlier, several thousand people retraced the route of the original 30 January 1972 parade. Relatives of some of those killed and a number of the wounded walked at the head of the march behind a banner entitled: “Justice: It Concerns It All” followed by young people carrying 14 large white crosses.

On the approach to Free Derry Corner, the parade halted briefly in Rossville Street to observe a minute’s silence prior to the laying of floral tributes at the Bloody Sunday memorial by Geraldine Donaghy, niece of Gerard Donaghy.

The march was accompanied by a number of republican and nationalist political groups. A number of local campaign groups also took part.

The keynote speaker at the commemoration at Free Derry Wall was Stafford Scott, a community activist who has led condemnation of the London Metropolitan Police following the 2011 killing of Mark Duggan in Tottenham.

Mr Scott said there were comparisons between Mr Duggan’s death and Bloody Sunday, claiming that after Mr Duggan’s death, the London police immediately issued statements promoting their version.

“We’ve tacitly supported your struggle, the struggle of republicans for a long, long time. It is an honour to be able to come here and share that support and solidarity with you all,” he said.

Mr Scott said the official police version of events in his community made the rest of the world look away.

“That’s why it’s critical that we give support for each other. That is why it’s critical that we hold each other’s hands and march for justice,” he said.

Following a minute’s silence, the names of the Bloody Sunday dead and wounded were read by Damien Donaghy, who was shot and injured on the day. The crowd dispersed after the playing of the National Anthem by the Parkhead Republican Flute Band from Glasgow.

Urgent Appeal