Bloody Sunday commemoration

The Terence MacSwiney Commemoration Committee held their now-annual show of solidarity outside of Westminster on Thursday 25th January to remember those murdered by the British army on Bloody Sunday on that fateful day in January 1972. The speakers at the event included John McDonnell MP, Paul Maskey MP, Francie Molloy MP and in Tony Doherty, son of Patrick Doherty, who travelled across from Derry for the event.

This year’s commemoration felt particularly poignant in light of the UK government’s Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, the so called ‘Amnesty Bill.’ Sadly, as with many government actions of the present time, that is not an amnesty in the sense of social justice. Rather, it seems to be an attempt to whitewash government-sanctioned injustices out of history.

The tactic of whitewashing has long been one favoured in British political actions and activities connected to the Irish situation.

Thankfully, as in previous years, the evidence suggests that the Irish are not planning on forgetting the past until it is resolved in a fair and accountable manner. That is why once again this event was well attended, even when taking place midweek. Though it has been over fifty years now since Bloody Sunday, the scars of that day remain deep in the psyche of Irish nationalism.