Bloody Sunday: Thousands taking part in 'Families Walk of Remembrance'

Several thousand people are taking part in the 'Families Walk of Remembrance,' the first of a number of events taking place today to mark ithe 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday.

British Army Paratroopers shot dead 13 and wounded another 14 during a civil rights march on Sunday, January 30, 1972. A 14th person died later from his injuries.

Following the walk, which is retracing the original march, a memorial service and wreath-laying ceremony will take place at the Bloody Sunday memorial on Rossville Street at 11.00am at which Taoiseach Micheal Martin will be among those laying floral tributes.

At 2.15pm, the March for Justice will leave Creggan, again retracing the route of the original march.

It will end with a rally at Free Derry Corner  in the Bogside where Bernadette McAliskey (Devlin) and well-known civil rights campaigner Eamonn McCann will be among the speakers.

Meanwhile, adverse weather predictions have forced the Bloody Sunday Trust to switch this afternoon's ‘Beyond the Silence’ event from Guildhall Square to the Millennium Forum Theatre and Conference Centre as a precaution.

The director of the Bloody Sunday Trust, Maeve McLaughlin, said: “We’ve been advised that the forecast for strong wind and prolonged rainfall on Sunday poses a potential risk to those taking part in ‘Beyond the Silence’, as well as to the public, and we felt we had no option but to seek an alternative indoor venue.

“Safety is paramount, from the Trust’s point of view, and throughout the planning stage we have been ensuring that risk assessments have been carried out for all events and at all venues. Up to now, the main focus had been on protecting people from Covid-19, but it would have been irresponsible to ignore the weather warnings and the potential implications for people’s safety.

 “The good news is that ‘Beyond the Silence’ is still going ahead, albeit indoors, and we are confident that we will provide a dignified, high quality event befitting such a significant occasion for the city.”‘

“Obviously, some will be disappointed, but I would ask them to understand that the Trust had no alternative given the forecast conditions.

“We apologise for any inconvenience – which is for reasons beyond our control – and apologise for any disappointment.”

The Trust has asked those attending ‘Beyond the Silence,’ to begin at 4.00pm, to be at the venues by 3.15pm.

The event will include video message from President Michael D Higgins.