THE BLOODY Sunday shootings in Derry 40 years ago yesterday were “an appalling injustice”, former taoiseach John Bruton said last night.
But there was a “second injustice” in that the Widgery report produced shortly afterwards had taken away the “good name” of the Bloody Sunday victims. “It was doubly imperative for that reason that the truth be brought to light.”
Mr Bruton recalled that, as taoiseach, he had the support of coalition partners Dick Spring and Proinsias De Rossa as well as Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern from the opposition benches in his efforts to secure a second inquiry.
Mr Bruton was speaking at the launch in Connolly's Books, Essex Street, Dublin, of Setting the Truth Free: The Inside Story of the Bloody Sunday Justice Campaignby Derry journalist Julieann Campbell. She is a niece of Jackie Duddy (17), who was among those shot dead by British troops on January 30th, 1972. Published by Liberties Press, the book is described as "the first-ever account of the remarkable Bloody Sunday Justice Campaign as told by the campaigners, relatives and the wounded themselves".
The publishers, said Mr Bruton,“led the way for the Irish government to lend its support to the Bloody Sunday Justice Campaign”. Ms Campbell was press officer for the families of the victims in the lead-up to the publication of the Saville report.
Gerry Duddy, Jackie’s younger brother, also attended the launch.
