Bloody Sunday verdict
In 1972, during a march protesting internment (imprisonment without trial), British soldiers shot 28 unarmed civilians in Derry's Bogside. Fourteen died. Many were shot while fleeing from the soliders, some were shot while trying to help the wounded.
The British government held two inquests into Bloody Sunday. The first was a whitewash. The second, the Saville Report, found (from wiki)
The firing by soldiers of 1 PARA on Bloody Sunday caused the deaths of 13 people and injury to a similar number, none of whom was posing a threat of causing death or serious injury," and also said, "The immediate responsibility for the deaths and injuries on Bloody Sunday lies with those members of Support Company whose unjustifiable firing was the cause of those deaths and injuries." Saville stated that British paratroopers "lost control", fatally shooting fleeing civilians and those who tried to aid the civilians who had been shot by the British soldiers. The report stated that British soldiers had concocted lies in their attempt to hide their acts.
Today, an indictment was returned against one British soldier in connection with Bloody Sunday. Soldier F faces charges for the deaths of James Wray and William McKinney and the attempted murders of Patrick O'Donnell, Joseph Friel, Joe Mahon and Michael Quinn. While some families were able to claim victory, after decades of waiting, many others were angry that no other soldiers were indicted. The decades that passed before the British government owned up to its role meant gathering sufficient evidence was a challenge.
It was a tough day for Derry, however Derry people are also tough.
March 14