“Rioters tarnished the memory of those who died on Bloody Sunday” - John Kelly
There has been wide spread criticism of the rioting which followed Sunday’s annual Bloody Sunday march.
By Laurence McClenaghan
30 January 2007
John Kelly, whose brother Michael was shot dead by British paratroopers during the 1972 march, accused those young people responsible for the violent scenes “of tarnishing the memory of those who were killed in January 1972.”
Distrurbances were first reported to the PSNI at shortly after 4pm and continued for one and a half hours at Butcher Gate.
Police were called to the scene after numerous stone throwing incidents at the junction of Butcher Street and Nailor’s Row, one vehicle was damaged during the trouble while police arrested two males for riotous behaviour.
A number of petrol bombs were also thrown at police in the vicinity of Society Street and Butcher Gate.
A number of tourists who had marched on the annual parade, were also caught up trying to return to the City Hotel after the speeches had been delivered.
Speaking to the JOURNAL, John Kelly said: “I would prefer not to comment but these people must be informed that they have tarnished the memory of those who died on the original march. The march is a dignified and peaceful means of protest, violence is the last thing we require. We do not want anyone else getting hurt or killed. We are saddened to hear of the trouble and we believe that it undermines the family day out that the march has become.
“Some of the families are simply horrified at the violent scenes witnessed,” concluded Mr. Kelly.
Peter Anderson, Sinn Fein Councillor for the Bogside said: “That those youths who participated in throwing stones and petrol bombs in Fahan Street were not politically motivated.”
Councillor Anderson added, “That this group of youths have, over the past few years, engaged in serious anti-community activity in the Bogside area of the city. If they were not throwing stones in Fahan Street they would be attacking the Fountain or burning cars in the Bogside.
“There was no reason whatsoever for these young people to start bother and put the residents of Fahan Street and the surrounding area through another ordeal of sheer wanton destruction and vandalism.
“It was clear from the numbers who took part, that the vast majority of young people who attended yesterday’s commemoration did not or would not insult the memories of those who died by attacking the very community they came from.”
When asked what parallels he drew between the Sinn Fein Ard Fhies on policing and the community’s apparent disregard for the PSNI, Colr. Anderson was adament: “If anyone thinks that these actions were a reaction to the historic vote being held at the same time then they are sadly mistaken. These young people are void of anything remotely political and should desist from this type of action that only serves to cause hardship to their own community.
SDLP Councillor, Seana Hume, also slammed those responsible and echoed the calls made by Mr. Kelly: “The actions of those who rioted must be condemned, especially on such an important day for the city and the families bereaved on Bloody Sunday. It should be these people we are thinking of at this time not stone throwing youths.
“Further, these scenes are not the vision of the city we are trying to market to tourism, a number of tourists were caught up in the violence and what will they now think of our city.”
