SAOIRSE32

BBC ON THIS DAY

*Please use the archive feature on the Livejournal location to search this site for articles posted about Bloody Sunday. Just click on the links for January 30 for years 2007, 2006 and 2005. There will be many articles available

30 January 1972

British troops have opened fire on a crowd of demonstrators in the Bogside district of Derry, killing 13 civilians.

Bogsiders say the troops opened fire on unarmed men

Seventeen more people, including one woman, were injured by gunfire. Another woman was knocked down by a speeding car.

The army said two soldiers had been hurt and up to 60 people arrested.

“They just came in firing - there was no provocation whatsoever.”
Father Daly

It was by far the worst day of violence in this largely Roman Catholic city since the present crisis began in 1969.

Bogsiders said the troops opened fire on unarmed men - including one who had his arms up in surrender.

The trouble began as a civil rights procession, defying the Stormont ban on parades and marches, approached an Army barbed wire barricade.

The largely peaceful crowd of between 7,000 and 10,000 was marching in protest at the policy of internment without trial. Some of the younger demonstrators began shouting at the soldiers and chanting, “IRA, IRA”.

A few bottles, broken paving stones, chair legs and heavy pieces of iron grating were thrown at the troops manning the barrier.

Stewards appealed for calm - but more missiles were thrown and the area behind the barricade was quickly strewn with broken glass and other debris.

The 1st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, which had been standing by in case of trouble, sprang into action. Squads leapt over the barricades and chased the demonstrators.

The gates were opened and eight armoured vehicles went into the Bogside and the remaining demonstrators were quickly surrounded.

Army claims provocation

The army says it opened fire after being shot at first by two snipers in flats overlooking the street. It claims acid bombs were also thrown.

The gun battle lasted about 25 minutes.

Father Edward Daly, a Catholic priest, was caught on film helping to carry a teenager who had been fatally wounded, to safety.

He said: “They just came in firing. There was no provocation whatsoever.

“Most people had their backs to them when they opened fire.”

Major General Robert Ford, Commander, Land Forces Northern Ireland, who was in charge of the operation, insisted his troops had been fired on first.

In Context

A 14th man later died of injuries received during the demonstration.

An inquiry into what became known as Bloody Sunday headed by Lord Widgery in 1972 exonerated the Army. It said their firing had “bordered on the reckless” but said the troops had been fired upon first and some of their victims had been armed.

The results of the inquiry were rejected by the Catholic community who began a long campaign for a fresh investigation.

In 1998, Tony Blair’s government announced a new inquiry into Bloody Sunday.

The inquiry, headed by Lord Saville, spent two years taking witness statements. It ended in November 2004 and had cost about £150 million.

Lord Saville’s final report and conclusions are not expected to be made public until summer 2005.

*Still waiting

Belfast Telegraph
29 January 2008
By Noel McAdam

The SDLP has been criticised after dividing in the Assembly over the Executive’s three-year programme for government - and signalling it will also oppose the Budget.

The party’s MLAs voted with Alliance against the programme.

But the sole SDLP Minister Margaret Ritchie voted to support it and the plan was approved overall by 60 votes to 24. If she had voted with her party, the Social Development Minister would have been in breach of the Ministerial Code, potentially plunging the power-sharing administration into crisis.

But despite drawing the ire of other Executive parties, former Finance Minister Mark Durkan’s party is still poised to vote against the accompanying Budget proposals today.

The party says too many questions remain unanswered over water reform, there is no mention of the crucial replacement for the 11-plus as well as continued pressures on the health budget and the lack of a children’s fund.

But sources have also insisted there is no question of the party pulling out of the Executive to form a more official opposition with Alliance.

North Down DUP MLA Peter Weir said the SDLP had performed a “complete U-turn” and it was “ludicrous” for Mrs Ritchie to have supported the two programme for government documents without party backing.

“If I was Margaret Ritchie I would be getting worried that my colleagues were deserting me and effectively hanging me out to dry with the electorate,” he said.

Alliance leader David Ford argued: “The logic of the SDLP’s position is that they should now pull out of the Executive.”

BBC

SDLP leader Mark Durkan has denied his party is divided over whether to support the Northern Ireland Assembly budget and programme for government.

Mark Durkan’s SDLP looks set to vote against the budget

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie was the party’s only MLA to vote for the programme for government.

However, Mr Durkan said this was because changes to the ministerial code meant Ms Ritchie had no choice.

The assembly is to debate and vote on Finance Minister Peter Robinson’s first budget on Tuesday.

Mr Robinson published his draft budget last October and a final version was agreed by the executive last week.

The SDLP and Alliance Party are expected to vote against the budget, although the DUP, Sinn Fein and Ulster Unionists are set to back it.

On Monday night, the assembly voted in favour of the programme for government and investment strategy.

It was passed by 60 votes to 24, with the SDLP and Alliance Party voting against it.

Mr Durkan said his party decided to vote against the programme for government because it was unclear on many issues including water reform, post-primary school reform and the health budget.

“If Ms Ritchie had not supported the programme for government, the DUP would have excluded her from office,” he said.

“We have a mandate to do what we are doing, we are standing by our manifesto.”

:::u.tv:::
28/01/2008

Lord Saville’s investigation into Bloody Sunday reaches a major milestone tomorrow. It is 10 years since it was officially created, however, it is still dogged by delays and huge costs.

Families of the Bloody Sunday dead, though, say they are prepared to wait another 10 years if it means getting the truth.

It is a decade exactly since the then Prime Minister Tony Blair went before Parliament to order a new inquiry under Lord Saville.

A decade later, 10 years have come and gone, Tony Blair has come and gone and the Inquiry has come and gone.

This is by far the biggest inquiry in UK legal history, a huge amount of material, an army of lawyers and more than 900 witnesses over seven years of hearings.

Much has been made over the £170million price tag of the Inquiry and although the families believe the investigation was worth the time and the money, they are bracing themselves for still more delays.

Even early drafts of the report may be pushed into court and subjected to judicial review.

The longest running inquiry in UK legal history may yet have some way to go.

Belfast Telegraph
28 January 2008
By Noel McAdam

New legislation will be required to underpin Northern Ireland’s four new Victims’ Commissioners, the Assembly was told today.

First Minister Ian Paisley said it was hoped the legislation will be brought forward as soon as possible, but the quartet of commissioners are for now appointed as “designates”.

Mr Paisley and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness also defended their decision to appoint four commissioners rather than one — due to a ” significant backlog of urgent work”.

MLAs, angry that the appointments were leaked before today’s official statement, also heard that the decision to re-advertise the then single position had resulted in 38 new applicants.

But it is understood that at least one of those appointed, former UTV Live anchorman Mike Nesbitt, was on the shortlist from the original pool of applicants.

Mr Paisley also argued a single commissioner would “inevitably” have been forced to delegate many activities, including consultation and liaison, to a secretariat and many specific projects would have had to be undertaken by consultants.

“Obviously” though, Mr Paisley added, administrative support will still be provided to the four commissioners.

“It is our intention to make formal appointments in due course, but we must first introduce the necessary legislation to create the Victims’ Commission,” the DUP leader said.

Before Mr McGuinness was due to take questions from Assembly members, Mr Paisley set out that the initial tasks for the commissioners would include a review of support services and the setting up of a Victims and Survivors’ Forum.

Belfast Telegraph
By David Young
28 January 2008

A leading dissident republican has called on splinter terror groups to unite to enable them to intensify their campaign of violence against British forces.

Londonderry hard-liner Gary Donnelly, a key figure within dissident circles, said the Real IRA and Continuity IRA should join forces.

The groups have co-operated in the past, most notoriously in the 1998 Omagh bomb attack, but have never formed an official alliance.

The Real IRA claimed responsibility for shooting and injuring two off-duty PSNI officers in separate attacks late last year.

Donnelly, who is from the Creggan area, is a senior member of the 32 County Sovereignty Committee, the group regarded as the political wing of the Real IRA.

“I would love to see republicanism united,” he told the Sunday Times.

“It would be more logical to have one group which would be more effective than two.”

The republican said the RIRA was rearming and actively recruiting new members.

His claims follow a foiled alleged attempt by the terror group to purchase arms and explosives in Lithuania last week.

Louth man Michael Campbell (36), the brother of former RIRA leader Liam Campbell, was arrested after a sting operation by the country’s secret service.

Donnelly, who denies being a leading member of the RIRA, said the group was attracting many disgruntled republicans.

“More and more people are returning to republicanism because of what (Gerry) Adams and (Martin) McGuinness have done,” he said.“ And these support the (Real) IRA.”

He added: “History has taught us that there always will be an IRA. Its evolution may ebb and flow but it will always be there as long as the border between north and south exists.”

Belfast Telegraph
By David Gordon
28 January 2008

An IRA money laundering claim made against a businessman by a DUP politician was back in the spotlight today after a High Court judge described it as ” baseless”.

Mr Justice Gillen made the statement while rejecting a judicial review taken by the Sheridan Group, headed by Belfast developer Peter Curistan.Mr Curistan was accused under parliamentary privilege by DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson in February 2006 of a link to “IRA dirty money”.

He strongly denied the claim and argued that it led to his company being ditched later in the year from an investment scheme for the publicly owned Queen’s Quay site in Belfast.Mr Justice Gillen today rejected Sheridan’s judicial review case against the Queen’s Quay decision, dismissing allegations of bad faith and unfairness against the Government.

The judge concluded that the company’s axing from the project was due to an accounting review which had shown up corporate governance weaknesses.

However, he also referred to money laundering allegations as “baseless” — echoing a comment by a Government lawyer during the hearing of the case last month.Mr Curistan today said he was disappointed with the ruling, adding: “Nevertheless, I am completely satisfied with the comprehensive vindication of my own personal reputation, and that of my company, by the trial judge in relation to the malicious and unfounded allegations made by Peter Robinson in the privileged confines of the House of Commons some time ago.”

Belfast Telegraph
By Lesley-Anne Henry
Monday, January 28, 2008

Mural artists from both sides of Ulster’s political divide have been given the go-ahead to show off their skills in Liverpool.

East Belfast loyalist Mark Ervine, son of the late PUP leader David Ervine, and republican ex-prisoner Danny Devenny have been granted £10,000 to paint murals of Merseyside’s most famous sons — The Beatles.

The unlikely duo are part of the Liverpool Mural Project which has been awarded the cash by the Liverpool Culture Company to mark this year’s Capital of Culture status.

They plan to paint a timeline history of The Beatles on an outside wall of the famous Picket music venue on Jordan Street in the heart of the Liverpool’s cultural district.

The mural will chart The Beatles’ rise from wannabes to a worldwide phenomenon, with painting expected to start in March.

The Liverpool Culture Company had initially rejected the project because it was not deemed “edgy enough”.

But after an 18-month campaign backed by politicians on both sides of the Irish Sea, the Culture Company changed their minds.

Mark, who was responsible for the New Dawn mural on Belfast’s Newtownards Road, said: “We are really pleased. We have been campaigning for this for about 18 months.

“We were initially told it didn’t have enough edge — but how much more edge can you get? We are well pleased to get the funding.”

Danny Devenny, who served time in Long Kesh, is renowned for painting murals across north and west Belfast — including the famous Falls Road Bobby Sands work.

He said: “We are over the moon about it. The boys from Liverpool are coming over on February 9 to plan when we are going to head over there to start.

“Our plan is to do a timeline history of The Beatles and possibly a couple of other murals. “We are hoping to bring three or four artists from here over as well as a number of musicians so that it is more than just a visual event.”

The artists also hope to involve school children and community groups from Liverpool. The idea came about after Liverpudlians Gregory Brennan and Peter Morrison took a black taxi tour of Belfast’s murals.

Originally it was planned to paint 12 murals — based on Beatles album covers — but that figure was reduced.

By Chris Thornton
28 January 2008
Belfast Telegraph

A serving MI5 officer will be first witness to testify as the Billy Wright Inquiry resumes today.

Witness DO1 is one of three members of the Security Service who will appear at the tribunal.

All three will be anonymous and screened from the public when they give evidence in Banbridge’s courthouse. In his application for anonymity, one of the agents said some of his closest friends are not even aware he works for MI5.

The three agents are expected to be asked about intelligence, including perceived threats against Wright, around the time the LVF leader was murdered.

Wright was shot dead in December 1997 by three INLA inmates who were housed in the same H Block of the prison. Last week, in a report detailing the PSNI’s inability to produce some evidence, the Inquiry revealed that a police informer was suspected of smuggling a gun to one of Wright’s killers, Christopher ‘Crip’ McWilliams, in prison sometime before the murder.

The PSNI told the inquiry the Special Branch agent is dead.

The inquiry’s report detailed other major gaps in intelligence, including reports on the surveillance of known INLA leaders who were suspected of the plot.

But the report thanked MI5 for its cooperation in resolving a logjam about evidence. The Security Service, along with the Army, had been seeking a restriction notice to prevent some documents being made public, while the in quiry was reluctant to do so.

They reached a compromise in which the evidence will be summarised and the original documents will not be produced.

The three MI5 agents had their applications for anonymity granted by the inquiry earlier this month. They will only be identified as DO1 — for “desk officer” — DO2 and HAG.

Billy’s dad, David Wright, did not raise any objections to the screening. He is known to be anxious to avoid any further delays in the inquiry, which is already running behind schedule.

The inquiry had been plagued by significant gaps in the documentary evidence, including the destruction of thousands of prison files. The Maze security files on Wright and two of his killers are among the missing documents.

The file on the third killer, John Glennon, was found by the inquiry among other prison documents. It contained the handwritten note saying a named Maghaberry prisoner was responsible for smuggling a gun to McWilliams.

The inquiry later matched his name to a list of informants supplied by the PSNI. It is not clear if the gun was one of the weapons used to kill Wright. McWilliams actually managed to breach high security twice in 1997 to produce guns in prison. On the first occasion, he took a prison officer hostage in Maghaberry, eight months before the Wright murder.

Finance Minister Peter Robinson is due to appear before the inquiry next week. He is being called because he revealed in Parliament in 2003 that he had been sent photocopies of the police file on Wright’s murder — one of the documents that the inquiry had trouble acquiring from the PSNI.

Derry Journal
25 January 2008

A Derry woman says she has been refused an army pension because she and her partner were not married when he died in a Real IRA bomb blast in the city’s Waterside.

David Caldwell

Father-of-three David Caldwell, a former UDR soldier, died after picking up a lunchbox packed with explosives at a TA base on the Limavady Road almost six years ago.

His long-term partner Mavis McFaul says the Ministry of Defence has told her she does not qualify for his pension. She insists she is struggling to get by on income support.

“It’s terrible. I’m sitting here in the house and I’ve a mortgage over my head and all I’m getting is £79 a week,” she said. “That’s what I have to live on, to pay for oil and groceries for me and the wee girl.”
Derry MP Mark Durkan, who has taken up the case, is urging the MoD to act with sensitivity.

“Here is a woman and a daughter who have lost someone in a terrible atrocity,” he said. “The issue that the MoD would be relying on will appear to them to be grossly insensitive and almost a bit of a ‘gotcha clause’ where they’re looking for an excuse not to pay.”

BBC

DUP leader Ian Paisley has been asked to stay away from a memorial service for the victims of an IRA bombing.

Twelve people were killed and many more badly burned on 17 February 1978

Relatives of some victims of the La Mon Hotel attack have requested the First Minister does not attend a 30th anniversary commemoration.

A Sunday newspaper said some of those injured in the IRA attack were unhappy with the DUP’s relationship with Sinn Fein at Stormont.

Twelve people were killed and many more badly burned on 17 February 1978.

The bomb turned the small country hotel, east of Belfast, into a raging inferno.

‘Different opinions’

The DUP’s Jeffery Donaldson said the party respected the victim’s feelings.

“Dr Paisley will only go where he is invited, of course,” he said.

“I understand, and we understand, the sensitivities around all of this, and we recognise that there are victims who feel that what is happening at Stormont is difficult for them to accept.

“There are others who support it, and many of them will be at Stormont tomorrow to endorse what is happening.

“So there are different views and different opinions, and we respect that.”

All those who died in the bombing were attending the annual dinner dance of the Irish Collie Club. Three of them were married couples and seven were women.

They were all Protestants and included a reservist in the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

Billy McDowell, who was badly injured in the attack, told the Dublin-based Sunday Tribune newspaper that Mr Paisley’s relationship with Sinn Fein in the executive made him feel sick.

“Paisley should stay away from our commemoration,” he told the paper.

The commemorative event is being held in Castlereagh Borough Council offices on February 17.

Other senior members of the DUP, which has a majority on the council, are expected to attend.

Sunday Life
By Stephen Breen
Sunday, January 27, 2008

The killer of north Belfast schoolboy Thomas Devlin could soon face charges over the brutal murder.

Sunday Life can reveal that police told the teenager’s parents, Penny and Jim, last week that a file on the case has been sent to the Public Prosecution Service.

The 15-year-old victim’s parents have also written to the PPS to request a meeting over their son’s case.

Evidence gathered from the two-and-a-half year probe is aimed at the chief suspect and his accomplice.

We have also learned the chief suspect was out on bail on an assault charge at the time of the murder.

But the PPS will also examine evidence which police hope will lead to charges against five people who have been accused of with holding information over the killing.

A senior police source told Sunday Life that one of those accused of withholding information is UVF double-killer Billy Hutchinson.

The senior loyalist was quizzed by cops about the murder last year, but later released.

Thomas’ parents last night welcomed the police’s decision to forward evidence to the PPS.

Said Ms Holloway: “The police have been very proactive since

Thomas’ murder and this is a significant development in our fight for justice.

“We’re pleased the police have forwarded a file on the alleged killer and his accomplice, but also on the people who have not come forward with information since 2005.

“We hope the killer and his accomplice will face murder charges and the people who protected them charged with withholding information.

“As arbiters of justice, the PPS has to demonstrate it is no longer acceptable for people to withhold evidence in a crime as serious as the murder of a child.

“We are dealing with the murder of a 15-year-old schoolboy and the PPS has to take on board the human rights of the victims. The decision on our son’s case now rests with them.”

Sunday Life know the names of the alleged killer and his thug pal, but cannot publish them for legal reasons.

One man has already appeared in court charged with the attempted grievous bodily harm of Thomas’ friend.

Sunday Life’s £10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone who was involved in the killing remains in place.

Thomas was stabbed five times in the back while walking with friends, close to his home on the Somerton Road, on August 10, 2005.

sbreen@belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Sunday Life
By Stephen Breen
Sunday 27, January 2008

Mum-of-two who fears for her family’s lives after her husband was accused of being a security forces spy, terrified Tish Murray spoke out last night to rubbish claims that her husband Paddy was an MI5 agent.

Police have warned the family that Murray — a well-known dissident re publican — is under a Real IRA death threat.

Tish has offered to meet the terror group’s leadership to talk about the tout claims.

The Co Antrim woman has also challenged the Real IRA to produce evidence that her husband is an agent.

The allegations were first made against Murray last October.

This is the first time his 38-year-old wife has spoken about her fears for her family.

Murray is due to be jailed next month after he pleaded guilty to attacking Antrim man Kevin Gillen in 2005.

The ex-IRA man was initially charged with kidnap, but those charges were lat er dropped.

Said Tish: “This has been going on for about four months now and

I’ve just had enough. We can’t go on living like this.

“If these people have evidence that Paddy is an informer then why don’t they produce it?

“My husband has never been an agent. I’ll meet these people on my own turf anytime.

“Paddy has been on remand since 2005 so how can he be near anyone to provide information?

“The only thing he is guilty of is of being a lifelong republican.

“The police told us that the Real IRA were going to abduct, interrogate and then shoot Paddy because they believed he was an agent.

“It’s not fair my two kids’ lives being put in danger because of groundless allegations.

“We used to live in fear of the loyalists but now we’re under threat from people who claim to defend the nationalist people.”

Murray — who was once involved in a heated row with IRA legend Martin Meehan — is now in hiding in the Irish Republic.

Mrs Murray claimed her husband has vowed to end his association with dissi dent republicans after his release from prison.

She added: “I’ve told Paddy that when he gets out of jail that’s the end of it. I can’t go on leading this type of life.

“He has assured me that he is walking away from everything and how he just wants to lead as normal a life as possible.

“We want to remain in Antrim but how can we do this if we have a death threat hanging over us?

“The only reason the kidnap charge was dropped was because of lack of evidence.

“If Paddy was being protected then why did I have to go out and buy two (CCTV security) cameras? Where is the support from the security forces?

“It’s now up to the Real IRA to say something.”

sbreen@belfasttelegraph.co.uk

BBC
26 January 2008

Hundreds of people have taken part in a parade in Glasgow to remember the victims of Bloody Sunday.

Hundreds of people took part in the march through Glasgow

The Cairde Na hEireann (Friends of Ireland) procession also attracted more than 100 counter-demonstrators.

A Strathclyde Police spokeswoman said that five arrests had been made for breach of the peace, but there were no major problems.

The parade remembers 14 civilians shot dead by British troops during a march in Derry on 30 January, 1972.

Saturday’s event saw about 350 people make their way from Blythswood Square to the city’s Kelvingrove Park, where a rally was held.

Francis McAdam, a spokesman for the marchers, said the police had been wrong to refuse them permission to walk through the city centre.

“We’re disappointed that Strathclyde Police have given in to mob rule,” he said.

“We’ve got the right to march peacefully, the same as the Orange Order, the same as anyone.

“Cairde Na hEireann will be applying for that same route again in the future - every other organisation is allowed to march through Glasgow city centre apart from ourselves - and we see that as anti-Irish racism.”

Last year’s parade went ahead peacefully, but in 2006 protesters tried to clash with those taking part.

Troubles relative’s hunger strike
Belfast Telegraph
By Brendan McDaid
25 January 2008

A man whose brother was shot dead during Operation Motorman has begun a hunger strike in protest over the treatment of families bereaved during the Troubles.

Derry man Danny Bradley said he was prepared to die unless measures were taken to ensure transparency and accountability were implemented as part of a truth commission.

He also called for proper compensation to be paid directly to families affected for the suffering over the past four decades.

The 51-year-old’s brother Seamus was one of two teenage boys shot and killed by soldiers in July 1972, after the Army invaded Derry’s No Go areas during Operation Motorman. The 19-year-old was unarmed when he was shot in Bishop’s Field in Creggan.

The PSNI’s Historical Enquiries Team has confirmed it will review Mr Bradley’s death “in the near future”.

But he criticised the Consultative Group on the Past’s current consultation on the Troubles, saying it did not go far or deep enough to satisfy the families of all those killed.

Mr Bradley said questions remained unanswered over his brother’s death and those of thousands of others killed during the Troubles. He said: “What I want is for the British government to take responsibility for what they did to my family - those who sent the troops in on Operation Motorman. No-one can be above the law.”

Criticising the Consultative Group, which is co-chaired by former vice-chairman of the Policing Board, Denis Bradley and former Archbishop of Armagh, Lord Eames, Mr Bradley claimed: “The Good Friday Agreement stipulated that the British and Irish governments should take joint responsibility for such matters as setting up such a group, half and half.

“Yet the Irish government have had no involvement in this. It has been brought about by the British government. The consultative group have basically had just a week of speaking with victims’ relatives in public meetings and 10 days of meeting with victims’ groups.

“At the end of their consultation they have until this summer to compile their report which will then go to the British government, who can say ‘this is what we are doing; we have done our bit’. It basically shuts the door,” he claimed.

Mr Bradley added that bereaved families deserved the chance to have their loved ones’ deaths investigated more fully.

“If the victims are forgotten the anger and bitterness will go on,” he said.

A spokesman for the Consultative Group on the past said: “The Group began its public consultation in September last year.

“In the five months since then they have met and listened to hundreds of people, including many victims and survivors.

“A submission has been received from Mr Bradley, who also spoke at last week’s public meeting (in Derry). His views will be carefully considered along with all other submissions as the Group begins the difficult task of writing the report.

“The issue of its independence was raised and discussed at the meeting in St Columb’s Park House. The Group has listened to the concerns raised and would ask everyone to judge them on their final report.”