DAN KEENAN in Derry
The nephew of Bloody Sunday victim John Johnston says a dark cloud has been lifted
JIMMY DUDDY tends to the grave of his uncle on the steep Creggan hillside overlooking the curve of the Foyle.
John Johnston was the second man to be shot on Bloody Sunday and the last to die. He fought for his life for nearly five months before dying from a clot in his brain.
“Johnny was cleared by Widgery [the first and now officially discredited investigation into the killings],” says Jimmy. “He was the only person who was cleared, but there was still a slur over his name. Now to hear that they were all innocent. I think Bishop Good said, a cloud has now been lifted. It was a dark and evil cloud in the shape of the paras.”
He is happy now that the world has heard the truth. “They can now go and change all the text books. We have moved a mountain. I hope that goes out to victims all over the world. If it takes 38 years you can move a mountain.”
In common with many other relatives of those killed and injured on Bloody Sunday, Jimmy believes there is no hierarchy of victims. The grave he visits is placed just behind a long row of republican graves with their identical Celtic crosses bearing the claim “died for Ireland”.
“All victims are equal. No matter whether they are UDA men, UVF men, IRA men, policemen, Protestants, Catholics. I think they all died because of the Troubles and the state they lived in.” For him, the presence of leading Protestant churchmen in the Bogside an hour earlier was emblematic of the Protestant response to the findings of Saville and the official confirmation that John Johnston had always been an innocent victim and that he died going to help young Damien Donaghey, who was the first to be hit by a paratrooper’s bullet.
However, the remarks of some unionist representatives, notably local man Gregory Campbell, make him “sad” rather than angry. “We don’t put ourselves before any victim – we are all victims, no matter who they are.”
Jimmy’s father, John, died just six weeks ago, aged 87, having spent nearly four decades seeking the truth behind the killings.
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JIMMY DUDDY tends to the grave of his uncle on the steep Creggan hillside overlooking the curve of the Foyle.
John Johnston was the second man to be shot on Bloody Sunday and the last to die. He fought for his life for nearly five months before dying from a clot in his brain.
“Johnny was cleared by Widgery [the first and now officially discredited investigation into the killings],” says Jimmy. “He was the only person who was cleared, but there was still a slur over his name. Now to hear that they were all innocent. I think Bishop Good said, a cloud has now been lifted. It was a dark and evil cloud in the shape of the paras.”
He is happy now that the world has heard the truth. “They can now go and change all the text books. We have moved a mountain. I hope that goes out to victims all over the world. If it takes 38 years you can move a mountain.”
In common with many other relatives of those killed and injured on Bloody Sunday, Jimmy believes there is no hierarchy of victims. The grave he visits is placed just behind a long row of republican graves with their identical Celtic crosses bearing the claim “died for Ireland”.
“All victims are equal. No matter whether they are UDA men, UVF men, IRA men, policemen, Protestants, Catholics. I think they all died because of the Troubles and the state they lived in.” For him, the presence of leading Protestant churchmen in the Bogside an hour earlier was emblematic of the Protestant response to the findings of Saville and the official confirmation that John Johnston had always been an innocent victim and that he died going to help young Damien Donaghey, who was the first to be hit by a paratrooper’s bullet.
However, the remarks of some unionist representatives, notably local man Gregory Campbell, make him “sad” rather than angry. “We don’t put ourselves before any victim – we are all victims, no matter who they are.”
Jimmy’s father, John, died just six weeks ago, aged 87, having spent nearly four decades seeking the truth behind the killings.
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BRIGHT SUNSHINE in Derry yesterday mirrored the prevailing mood.
Eithne Donnellan in Derry
Just a day after the findings of the Bloody Sunday inquiry were published, locals were already remarking on how everyone seemed so much more positive. They commented that “a black cloud had lifted” from over the city now that the inquiry had acknowledged that the 14 civilians gunned down during a civil rights march on January 30th, 1972, were innocent victims.
Clare Miller, who was out shopping, observed a big difference in the atmosphere. The daughter of a woman who had been on the march, she noticed people were much more upbeat.
“We never thought in a million years that we would get the apology that the prime minister gave . . . it’s like a weight has been lifted and the black cloud’s gone,” she said.
“It’s brilliant. It’s fantastic for Derry and I think it has united everybody . . . It’s united a lot of people on both sides because the nationalist community knew what had happened but on the other side of the divide a lot of people thought what happened was the fault of the people and it’s great just to get that cleared up.
“I think it will make a difference. People are a hell of a lot more positive about things now,” she said.
Mary McDaid from the Shantallow area said “a beautiful calmness” had descended on the city. For years Bloody Sunday had cast a shadow over the city, she believed, and “there was this veil people could not push through. It seemed they were banging their heads off a brick wall . . . It’s almost as if there now has been light shed on what was a darkness for a long time.”
Her sister Ella McCallion, who was on the ill-fated march, said there was definitely a great weight lifted now. “It killed the demon . . . I didn’t sleep much last night I was so excited,” she admitted.
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Just a day after the findings of the Bloody Sunday inquiry were published, locals were already remarking on how everyone seemed so much more positive. They commented that “a black cloud had lifted” from over the city now that the inquiry had acknowledged that the 14 civilians gunned down during a civil rights march on January 30th, 1972, were innocent victims.
Clare Miller, who was out shopping, observed a big difference in the atmosphere. The daughter of a woman who had been on the march, she noticed people were much more upbeat.
“We never thought in a million years that we would get the apology that the prime minister gave . . . it’s like a weight has been lifted and the black cloud’s gone,” she said.
“It’s brilliant. It’s fantastic for Derry and I think it has united everybody . . . It’s united a lot of people on both sides because the nationalist community knew what had happened but on the other side of the divide a lot of people thought what happened was the fault of the people and it’s great just to get that cleared up.
“I think it will make a difference. People are a hell of a lot more positive about things now,” she said.
Mary McDaid from the Shantallow area said “a beautiful calmness” had descended on the city. For years Bloody Sunday had cast a shadow over the city, she believed, and “there was this veil people could not push through. It seemed they were banging their heads off a brick wall . . . It’s almost as if there now has been light shed on what was a darkness for a long time.”
Her sister Ella McCallion, who was on the ill-fated march, said there was definitely a great weight lifted now. “It killed the demon . . . I didn’t sleep much last night I was so excited,” she admitted.
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We acknowledge the witness of Bishop Edward Daly, and the many clergy, whose part in Bloody Sunday and its aftermath is deservedly recognised.”
They saluted also “all the politicians who have contributed in leadership roles and to the building of a solid peace” and they “acknowledge the pastoral leadership shown by the representatives of the other Christian Churches as demonstrated by their visit to Derry today”.
They called “on all those who are still committed to violence to recognise the futility of this approach and we plead with them to turn to a constructive political path to achieve their goals”.
On Tuesday, the Catholic Bishop of Derry Séamus Hegarty welcomed “the unequivocal and strong language” used in the report “to confirm the innocence of the victims”.
He paid tribute “to the many people who were on the ground caring for the victims on that dark day and who did so at considerable risk to their own safety. I include Bishop Edward Daly and the many clergy who ministered to the victims . . . in the aftermath of the shootings.”
They saluted also “all the politicians who have contributed in leadership roles and to the building of a solid peace” and they “acknowledge the pastoral leadership shown by the representatives of the other Christian Churches as demonstrated by their visit to Derry today”.
They called “on all those who are still committed to violence to recognise the futility of this approach and we plead with them to turn to a constructive political path to achieve their goals”.
On Tuesday, the Catholic Bishop of Derry Séamus Hegarty welcomed “the unequivocal and strong language” used in the report “to confirm the innocence of the victims”.
He paid tribute “to the many people who were on the ground caring for the victims on that dark day and who did so at considerable risk to their own safety. I include Bishop Edward Daly and the many clergy who ministered to the victims . . . in the aftermath of the shootings.”
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