JUDE COLLINS: John Hume was half-right with his Bloody Sunday quote
Many people don’t care what happened on Bloody Sunday 1972. It's understandable—they weren’t born yet, don’t live in Derry or the Bogside, and over fifty years have passed with other events taking precedence in their minds. However, the families—fathers, sons, uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends—haven't forgotten.
This made last week’s news especially painful when Soldier F was acquitted on all charges of murder. It took fifty-three years to bring a British soldier to trial for Bloody Sunday, and when the case was heard, he was found not guilty.
John Hume's Reflection on Bloody Sunday
“Many people down there feel now it’s a united Ireland or nothing. Alienation is pretty total.” — John Hume, in an interview with The Irish Times following Bloody Sunday
John Hume’s prediction about reunification was not accurate—fifty-three years later, there is still no united Ireland. Yet, he correctly sensed the profound alienation felt by the community.
Reaction to the Verdict
The victims' relatives expressed deep disgust after the verdict. The iconic Free Derry mural was altered to state, “There is no British justice.”
It’s hard to believe the events that unfolded: the Parachute Regiment, responsible for the Ballymurphy deaths in Belfast, entered the Bogside and deliberately shot thirteen people, with a fourteenth dying later.
Historical Context
The Home Secretary at the time, Reginald Maudling, claimed the British army “came under fire,” attempting to justify the military actions during Bloody Sunday.
Author’s Summary
The Bloody Sunday verdict highlights enduring feelings of injustice and alienation in Northern Ireland, underscoring a long struggle for truth and reconciliation.
Would you like the summary sentence to be more formal or conversational?