Niece vows to clear murdered Gerry Donaghey's name

"The Saville Report - in pronouncing the innocence of all the Bloody Sunday victims - gave comfort to many people. But its failure to fully exonerate Gerald [Donaghey], despite being declared innocent and posing no threat when he was killed of the blatantly false, charge of possessing nail-bombs, broke our hearts.

These were the poignantly powerful words of Geraldine Doherty this afternoon, as she unveiled the new Bloody Sunday Mural, which features her uncle, Gerald Donaghey, at Lisfannon Park in the city.

On the 13th anniversary of the publication of the Saville Report, Geraldine said: "I am very proud to be here today to remember my uncle, Gerald Donaghey.  I am here to continue my late Mother’s battle for truth and justice. Mary who fought tirelessly to clear her brother’s name, was a broken women on the 15 June 2010 when Saville failed to address the issue of nail bombs planted on his body by the British army.

"Mary sadly died a few months later with that injustice always on her mind. Mary, we are here today, to remind everyone that your battle to remove the stain on his good name and reputation continues." 

Gerald Donaghey was one of the 14 people murdered by the British army in Derry on January 30, 1972. 28 unarmed civil rights / anti-internment marchers were shot that day.

The Bloody Sunday dead were: John "Jackie" Duddy (17), Michael Kelly (17), Hugh Gilmour (17), William Nash (19), John Young (17), Michael McDaid (20), Kevin McElhinney (17), James "Jim" Wray (22), William McKinney (26), Gerard "Gerry" McKinney (35), Gerard "Gerry" Donaghy (17), Patrick Doherty (31), Bernard "Barney" McGuigan (41), and John Johnston (59), all of whom are featured on the new mural.

Geraldine added: "I am very proud to tell all of you here, that we know he was an innocent 17-year-old boy - a child… murdered whilst marching for civil rights, and that we will not rest until that fact is written into the historical record.  Lord Saville’s slur on Gerald’s good name will not remain as the last word on his far-too-short life.

"The Saville Report - in pronouncing the innocence of all the Bloody Sunday victims - gave comfort to many people. But its failure to fully exonerate Gerald, despite being declared innocent and posing no threat when he was killed of the blatantly false, charge of possessing nail-bombs, broke our hearts. 

"These lies, which have been left on the record against Gerald, have been used for more than 50 years as justification for both his death and for the deaths and woundings of 27 other people. I will not rest until these lies are eradicated from the public record.

"Saville cannot and will not be the last word on Bloody Sunday. Everytime any person looks at or is shown this wall they ask themselves, why is this young boy so significant? He is significant because he is both the reminder of how our innocence was crushed - and also how, in his own case, his innocence is still being denied," said Geraldine. 

Geraldine reiterated that no-one at the unveiling needed reminded that those shot down on these streets over 50 years ago were innocent.

"But what must be remembered is that those who planned, ordered, executed and covered up the murder of our loved ones on that day, remain unaccountable for their actions," she continued. "No member of the British establishment, no politician, no military commander, including Sir General Mike Jackson, who has been previously depicted on this wall, and justifiably called out as a War Criminal – will have to face any consequences for their murderous actions.

Geraldine Doherty (left) with her late mother, Mary, at Free Derry Wall.

"The current Legacy Bill being driven through the British Houses of Parliament will shut down once and for all, families search for truth and justice.

"I would like to give my sincerest thanks to all those who created this very fitting mural and who continue to highlight the failings of Saville and the significance of Gerald’s case, including the Bloody Sunday Trust, the Bloody Sunday March Committee, and all those friends, comrades and supporters - especially the late and much missed Stephen Gargan.

"The fight for truth and justice continues – Only when we can look up at this young boy’s face and say to him: ‘Gerald, we have done it, your name is completely cleared, now and forever, that at long last, we have done right by you.’ 

Go raibh maith agaibh."