Call for justice from Galway on the 50th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday
Photo from Sinn Féin Gaillimh Thiar – Galway West Facebook page
Family members of those who died on Bloody Sunday and activists organised vigils at the weekend to mark its 50th Anniversary with a call for justice.
Sinn Féin and Éirígí Gaillimh hosted separate vigils last Saturday and Sunday in Eyre Square to commemorate the killings which happened on Sunday 30th January, 1972 in Derry.
On that day, the British Army’s Parachute Regime opened fire on a civil rights march, where 28 people were shot. 13 men and boys died and another man died later due to his injuries. The victims were between 17 and 59 years old.
Sinn Féin activist, Mark Lohan, said that the purpose of the vigil was to show solidarity with the families of the 14 people who were killed and to remember “those who were so brutally murdered by the British state”.
Mr Lohan called for justice for the families, and for the soldiers who committed the attack to be brought to trial.
“British justice has never been served in Ireland and it never will. And it’s only until we stand up for ourselves and take justice, and fairness into our own hands that we will finally get justice. So, we will never forget those who were murdered. And we will never forget those who were so brutally taken away, innocent people. And it’s important that we remember them and that the British state is not allowed to forget about it.
“We will continue to remember people and we will continue pushing in Council chambers, in Leinster House, in Stormont and in Westminster, where we have representatives who will continue pushing that British soldiers have to be brought to justice for the crimes they committed against innocent Irish citizens,” said Mr Lohan.
Éirígí Galway Representative, Ian Ó Dálaigh said that they organised a vigil in Galway because members and supporters couldn’t go to Derry to commemorate.
“We wanted to add our voices from Galway to both honour the 14 victims and to join the call for justice. None of these soldiers have been prosecuted. The case has not been brought to court. At the moment, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Tory government are trying to bring forward legislation to ensure that this will never happen,” said Mr Ó Dálaigh.
