Bloody Sunday report published

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The Bloody Sunday killings were unjustified and unjustifiable, the Prime Minster has said.
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Thirteen marchers were shot dead on 30 January 1972 in Londonderry when British paratroopers opened fire on crowds at a civil rights demonstration.
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Fourteen others were wounded, one later died. The Saville Report is heavily critical of the Army and found that soldiers fired the first shot.
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Prime Minister David Cameron said he was “deeply sorry”.
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He said that the findings of the Saville Report were “shocking”.
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A huge cheer erupted in Guildhall Square in Derry as Mr Cameron delivered the findings which unequivocally blamed the Army for one of the most controversial days in Northern Ireland’s history.
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news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/northern_ireland/10320609.stm
 
It took the British govt 38 yrs to “notice” the facts and publish them?

You have every right to your cynicism.
 
As long as those who’s family members died (or were wounded) on Bloody Sunday find closure and/or are satisfied. They are the ones who’s opinions and feelings count after all is said and done.

I’d like to know what they all think.
 
As an irishman i am glad for the families and pray this brings them closure if not peace.
 
Yes, indeed.
38 yrs past the slaughter and a generation is commonly defined as 20 yrs.
So nearly two generations have been born since the slaughter.
Imagine how many of the oldest of surviving relatives have already died.
 
I was 15 and within a few months of sitting the Irish state exams known as the Intermediate Certificate when Bloody Sunday happened. I remember the terrible anger mixed with despair that these killings evoked throughout Ireland and the widespread fury when the now infamous Widgery report basically exonerated the Paras and blamed the victims. After that, and in the face of such blatant injustice, young nationalists were increasingly drawn to violent political groups.

Watching the families of the victims on the Irish news here this evening, I found myself choking with mixed emotions: joy that they are finally vindicated, sadness and anger that this day has been so long in coming, and admiration for their incredible courage and determination for almost forty years.

Someone said on FB this evening that Bishop Edward Daly said it was a day of healing - he was standing with the Church of Ireland bishop, Ken Good who played a blinder today with the families etc - and Bishop Daly also said that he was quite stunned at how good PM Cameron’s speech was. He watched it with the family of John (Jackie) Duddy (17). who was shot in the chest in the car park of Rossville flats, and whom then Fr Daly tried to get out to hospital, waving his white hankerchief in an event captured in a now iconic photograph of that day.
 
So…they should have just never given an apology? I understand the cynicism, but it may be a bit much. From the other posts and articles I’ve read, it does seem to mean something to the families of the victims. I hope it leads to some healing of very deep wounds.
 
An apology from Britain is unexpected and welcomed.

I wish they would apologize for the actions that took place during the four Irish famines of 1740-41, 1845-1852, 1879, and 1905.

After that, they can move on to the rest of the incidents that occurred during the over 800 years of occupation of the island.
 
It is so hard to put this into words as I remember that day so well as a teenage onlooker via the BBC Television news. The shock, the horror of something that was so obviously obscene… We all remember that famous photo of Fr. Daly holding a handkerchief in what looked like surrender but was, in fact a cry for help which didn’t come quickly enough. To Catholics - Irish, English, Italian, Polish…this was a murder of our brothers and sisters but it was a murder of Irish, living in their native land by the British Army. It was barbaric, heinous and evil. My father, son of an Irish immigrant, was so angry - wanted to go there and do something.

Now, today, at last, an apology and I really felt that it was heartfelt by the Prime Minister. We are in a new page of history in these islands. The truth has come out and has been acknowledged. I pray for a lasting peace in the isle of Ireland; Ulster, Munster. Leinster and Connaught. I think you can tell where I’m coming from. One day justice will be done.

:shamrock2:
 
As a descendant of Irish emigrants during the famine, never did I hear a kind word about the Brits, and the history of the Brits in Ireland has little good to be said of it.

However, I was obliged to pay some attention to an Irish priest here who knew some of the guys who died in Maze Prison (hope I spelled that right). He had little to say favorable about the Brits, but he did tell me that, during the last half century, the only thing that prevented the Orangemen from taking over all of ireland was the British army. He told me how the No Irish protestants “paid” England for remaining by serving in very large numbers in the British armed forces. He told me that, as a result, the protestants were extraordinarily well trained, as well as being well armed.

So, while no doubt the Brits were, as alleged, responsible for Bloody Sunday, there is also the point of view that they also held the well-organized protestant forces at bay for the most part.
 
It seems very sad that it took them this long to finish and publish this report. Will the families be compensated in any way due to this report?
 
I think this report is far from meaningless to the families involved. The fact that they are almost 40 years older from when their loved ones were killed is all the more reason for this report. Parents have died knowing that their sons were branded terrorists, and surviving family members have had this hanging over them for many many years.
This report is far from meaningless to them as all those who have died have been declared innocent and hopefuly they can all live the rest of their lives without this cloud hanging over them.
 
Ronsatron said:
I think this report is far from meaningless to the families involved. The fact that they are almost 40 years older from when their loved ones were killed is all the more reason for this report. Parents have died knowing that their sons were branded terrorists, and surviving family members have had this hanging over them for many many years.
This report is far from meaningless to them as all those who have died have been declared innocent and hopefuly they can all live the rest of their lives without this cloud hanging over them.
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Far from meaningless, but far more meaningful if they’d been honest immediately after instead of slandering the innocent civilians they murdered in cold blood during a Civil Rights march. The effect that this particular Bloody Sunday has had extended far beyond the families of the victims.

People were pushed further into political extremism, and armed struggle. The Republican Catholic population turned against the British Army who previously were welcomed as it was hoped they’d defend the Catholic population too. And the British media had a field day with all the propaganda opportunities.

To ridgerunner. I wouldn’t say that the Brits held back the Unionist Paramilitaries (in fact, they armed them and colluded with them).
 
You’re a good man.

I heard the relatives speak on the radio.

Seems like there’s a split. For some, that’s it - they wanted it publically acknowledged that their son/brother/uncle/father was not a terrorist. That alone seems to have allowed them some peace.

For others, it seems like this will be the launchpad for a very protracted, very messy, very stifled legal procedings.

More years of anguish for the relatives concerned.

I will however have a large slice of your cynicism, with coffee - straight from the pot please.
 
Guyonthestreet said:
You’re a good man.

I heard the relatives speak on the radio.

Seems like there’s a split. For some, that’s it - they wanted it publically acknowledged that their son/brother/uncle/father was not a terrorist. That alone seems to have allowed them some peace.

For others, it seems like this will be the launchpad for a very protracted, very messy, very stifled legal procedings.

More years of anguish for the relatives concerned.

I will however have a large slice of your cynicism, with coffee - straight from the pot please.
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I personally hope the families do not proceed with law suits at this point. If they do then I think it will potentially bring old wounds to the surface once again and increase levels of animosity of both sides.
Justice has now finally been done and was very worth while, and I hope the families can now live content that their loved ones names have been cleared.
 
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