Northern Ireland

Thumbs-up signalled victory for the Bloody Sunday families

A thumbs-up from Paul Doherty and John McKinney signalled victory for the Bloody Sunday families. PICTURE: Margaret McLaughlin
A thumbs-up from Paul Doherty and John McKinney signalled victory for the Bloody Sunday families. PICTURE: Margaret McLaughlin A thumbs-up from Paul Doherty and John McKinney signalled victory for the Bloody Sunday families. PICTURE: Margaret McLaughlin

One of two men whose thumbs-up gesture from Derry’s Guildhall confirmed that Saville was a victory for the Bloody Sunday families, said the publication of the report was the best day of his life.

The first indication that the Bloody Sunday dead and wounded had been exonerated was when Paul Doherty and John McKinney broke a government embargo, to give a thumbs-up sign to thousands of people waiting in Guildhall Square.

Ten years on, Mr Doherty - whose father Patrick was shot dead on Bloody Sunday - believes Saville was a victory for the families but did not get the full truth. He believes it failed by not establishing a link with senior military and political figures.

While the report exonerated the dead and wounded, it concluded that the youngest victim, Gerald Donaghy had been carrying nail bombs although he did not pose a threat. The Donaghy ruling remains an open sore for the Bloody Sunday families.

World attention focused on Derry’s Guildhall Square on June 15 2010. The Bloody Sunday families and injured were brought in to the Guildhall on strict embargo conditions to be given a first viewing of the report. The key findings were to be announced by then Prime Minister, David Cameron who subsequently went on to apologise for the January 30 1972 killings.

“It was a spur of the moment thing. We knew that Cameron was going to be making a speech and we were in the Guildhall and had been given the key findings.

“I was standing with John (McKinney, brother of victim, William) and Philip O’Donnell and we sort of said 'why don’t we upstage Cameron' and we stuck our thumbs out the window. I’m glad we did it; I’m glad it was the families who told the people of Derry.

“I remember seeing Hugh McMonagle, who helped carry Jackie Duddy’s body, as we heard the cheers and he was smiling and clapping and tears were in his eyes. It was so emotional; it was the best day of my life,” the Derry man said.

John Kelly’s brother, Michael was also shot dead on Bloody Sunday. He believes the “journey for justice” will not be complete until those responsible for the deaths are prosecuted.

Mr Kelly said the families were devastated when it was announced that only Soldier F would face murder charges. The former paratrooper is expected to be charged with the murders of William McKinney and Jim Wray and the attempted murders of Michael Quinn, Joe Mahon, Patrick O’Donnell and Joseph Friel. T

“It is hard to accept that ten years later we are still seeking justice and still trying to end the journey for justice. But I’ll never give up,” Mr Kelly said.

A number of events are being staged online by the Museum of Free Derry to mark the anniversary of the publication of the report. Videoed interviews with people who were present when the report was published are running throughout the week on the museum’s various online platforms. An extract from playwright, Dave Duggan’s 'Scenes from an Inquiry' will be available on the museum’s online platforms.