For over two hours on Saturday 25th January 2014 (11.30am - 1.45pm) , in atrocious weather conditions, Irish republicans maintained a presence in O'Connell Street, Dublin, to mark the 42nd anniversary of 'Bloody Sunday' in Derry when, on the 30th January in 1972, 13 unarmed civilians were shot dead by the Parachute Regiment of the British Army.
RSF Head Office (223 Parnell Street, Dublin 1) had compiled a total of 260 'leaflet packs' comprising 1,000 items of printed material for distribution on the day and, to the credit of those distributing same, all were distributed during two hours, despite a less-than-usual 'populated' city centre, due to the weather conditions.
The names of the 13 civilians who were massacred on the 30th January 1972 by the British Army were read out at the picket, and the details involved were highlighted ie - "Michael Kelly died from a single shot to his abdomen, probably fired by Soldier F. The bullet entered from the front and travelled backward and downward. He died within a few minutes of being shot. He was shot near the rubble barricade in front of Rossville Flats. Lord Widgery accepted that Kelly was not armed but concluded that he must have been standing close to someone who had discharged their weapon because of lead particles on Kelly's right cuff. This finding ignored the strong likelihood of contamination from soldiers who handled the bodies when they were taken to the morgue and this was true in the case of many of those killed..." and a letter, dated 1st February 1972, penned by British Army Brigadier F.P. Barclay, DSO, MCDL, Colonel, the Royal Norfolk Regiment, was read out at the picket : "Dear Wilford, As an ex-parachute Brigade Commander I write to say how proud it made one feel to see the way, on TV, which your lads went into action against those blighters last Sunday. They looked splendid and, as usual, bang on the ball. It seems to me and many others that prompt retaliatory action such as this is long overdue. It will have, I've little doubt, a most salutory effect. Should have happened long since! I sincerely trust you successfully weather those thoroughly unjustified but seemingly inevitable brickbats and recriminations emanating mostly from those who either have no sense of law and order, duty or perspective, or who are spineless. With best wishes to you and yours, Sincerely, Peter Barclay, Little Dunham Lodge, Kings Lynn, Norfolk."
The Republican Movement are to be congratulated for continually highlighting this (and other) British Army atrocities in Ireland and for reminding those willing to listen that as long as the British remain in Ireland, politically and/or militarily, the potential remains for such atrocities. Once again, well done to RSF for the good work they have done in relation to this and other issues. A full report will be published in the February 2014 issue of 'Saoirse', which goes to print on Wednesday 5th of that month.
Thanks for reading, Sharon.
