Northern Ireland

Altnagelvin hospital was like a war zone following October 5 Civil Rights march

 A still from RTÉ footage of the events on October 5 1968
 A still from RTÉ footage of the events on October 5 1968  A still from RTÉ footage of the events on October 5 1968

AS a trainee radiographer Deirdre O’Doherty recalls helping scores of wounded as they streamed into Altnagelvin Hospital.

By the end of her shift Ms O’Doherty – whose twin brother, Fionnbarra was one of the march organisers – had helped treat 44 people for head wounds inflicted by the RUC, among those who she x-rayed was West Belfast MP Gerry Fitt.

Fifty years later, she can still recall the scenes of chaos at Altnagelvin’s emergency unit.

“There were people lying on the floor with friends and relatives taking off coats and jumpers and rolling them up to make cushions for their heads. I had never seen anything like this. It was like a war zone,” she said.

Deirdre O'Doherty treated Gerry Fitt MP for head injuries suffered when he was struck by a police baton.
Deirdre O'Doherty treated Gerry Fitt MP for head injuries suffered when he was struck by a police baton. Deirdre O'Doherty treated Gerry Fitt MP for head injuries suffered when he was struck by a police baton.

After taking 44 x-rays, the young trainee started working on the other wounded, those with injuries to their arms, ribs and shoulders.

Earlier in the day, her family home at Prehen was a centre of operations as first Mr Fitt and a Belfast delegation arrived.

 Gerry Fitt and John Hume were among the crowd in Derry
 Gerry Fitt and John Hume were among the crowd in Derry  Gerry Fitt and John Hume were among the crowd in Derry

With her family she joined the march from Duke Street and remembers seeing police “run amok” among protesters.

“The crowd were followed by the RUC who hit out at everyone with no regard for gender or age. I even witnessed a young mother wheeling a baby in a pram being assaulted. They, the RUC, were aiming at skulls and upper bodies," she claimed.

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At one point, Ms O’Doherty recalled being frozen to the spot with fear and having to be physically dragged to safety by her brother.

On reaching safety, she realised she would be needed at Altnagelvin despite not being scheduled to work that day and it was there that she treated Mr Fitt, just hours after serving him lunch in the family home.

“My God, he said, when you were feeding me tea and sandwiches this morning, I’m sure you would not have thought that you would end up x-raying me,” she recalled.

The following morning Ms O’Doherty recalled police arriving at her home to arrest her brother as one of the march organisers, along with Eamonn McCann and Eamon Melaugh.

“My mother dressed immediately but refused to let them take him straight away. ‘He’s not leaving this house without a full breakfast’ she told them.”

Fionnbarra O Dochartaigh (left) and former Stormont MP Ivan Cooper were among the leaders of the civil rights movement in 1968. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
Fionnbarra O Dochartaigh (left) and former Stormont MP Ivan Cooper were among the leaders of the civil rights movement in 1968. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin Fionnbarra O Dochartaigh (left) and former Stormont MP Ivan Cooper were among the leaders of the civil rights movement in 1968. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin