A History of Ireland in Song
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Bloody Sunday

On 30th January, 1972, troops of the British Army's 1st Parachute Regiment opened fire on a demonstration against internment in the Bogside, Derry. Thirteen people were shot dead, another man dying later of wounds received on the day; fourteen people were injured. Altogether, the soldiers fired a total of 108 rounds. They claimed that they fired at gunmen and bombers; but no guns were recovered from any of the victims, and the only bombs recovered were four nail bombs which were allegedly found on the body of Gerald Donaghy in disputed circumstances (see below). No photographic evidence was produced showing a gunman or bomber despite the fact that there many photographers operating in the area, including at least two army photographers. The evidence collected from ordinary bystanders and journalists makes it clear that soldiers fired at unarmed civilians in circumstances where there was no threat to the lives of the soldiers.

Killed (14):

Pat Doherty was killed as he crawled on his hand and knees, obviously unarmed, to assist a youngster lying wounded in the middle of the street. The fatal bullet entered his buttocks, traveled up his spine, and exited his chest. Photographs taken by Gilles Peress moments before Paddy died clearly showed him to be unarmed.

Gerald Donaghy was trying to run to safety between Glenfada Park and Abbey Park when he was shot. He was hit once in the abdomen, and did not die at the scene. Bystanders managed to get him to the house of Raymond Rogan in the hope of getting medical treatment for his wounds. In the house his clothes were searched for identification. He was examined in the house by Doctor Kevin Swords. Dr Swords recommended that Gerald be taken to Altnagelvin Hospital. Raymond Rogan and Leo Young began the drive to the hospital with Gerald in Rogan's car. At a military checkpoint in Barrack Street both Rogan and Young were ordered to leave the vehicle and a soldier drove it to the Regimental Aid Post of 1st Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment where a Medical Officer pronounced that Gerald Donaghy was dead.

Jack Duddy was killed by a single shot that passed through his upper chest from right to left and slightly forward. Four witnesses, including Fr. Edward Daly — then a Catholic priest, later to become Bishop of Derry — all stated that Duddy was unarmed at the time he was shot; and that he was running away from soldiers when he was shot. Three of these witnesses stated that they saw a soldier take deliberate aim at Duddy as he fled across the courtyard of Rossville Flats.

Hugh Gilmour was shot by a single bullet that passed through his body and through his left forearm as he was running away from soldiers in Rossville Street. The bullet travelled from right to left through his chest travelling horizontally and slightly forward. A photograph of Gilmour, taken seconds after he was hit, showed that he was unarmed a fact confirmed by a number of witnesses. Gilmour was shot close to the rubble barricade but managed to run for several meters before falling to the ground at the side of Rossville Flats. A student nurse tried to treat his wounds. He died shortly after where he had fallen.

Michael Kelly died from a single shot to his abdomen. The bullet entered from the front and travelled backward and downward. He died within a few minutes of being shot. He was shot near the rubble barricade in front of Rossville Flats.

Michael McDaid was killed by a single shot to his face at the rubble barricade in front of Rossville Flats. He probably died immediately. The book Eyewitness Bloody Sunday: The Truth included a photograph of McDaid moments before he was shot. This shows McDaid walking away from the soldiers and facing towards "Free Derry Corner". This evidence, plus the results of post-mortem examinations, which showed the trajectory of the bullet to be from the front to the back and from above to below, plus recent evidence that soldiers on the Derry Walls fired into the bogside, has led the author of the book to conclude that McDaid, Nash and Young could have been shot by one or more soldiers who were on the Derry Walls.

Kevin McElhinney died like Doherty, except that he was crawling towards the safety of a doorway instead of to help a wounded man. The bullet entered his buttocks and went through his body.

Bernard McGuigan was shot in the head while trying to aid the fatally injured Doherty. He was waving a white handkerchief and obviously unarmed.

William McKinney was shot dead after he left the safety of cover to try to assist Gerald McKinney (not a relation) who had been shot moments before. He was shot from behind, as he was bent over Gerald McKinney, and the bullet travelled through his chest from right to left and then through his left wrist.

William Nash was killed by a single shot to his chest near the rubble barricade in front of Rossville Flats. The bullet entered his right upper chest from the front and travelled backward and downward exiting from his lower back. He was killed at almost the same time and in the same circumstances as John Young. Eyewitness accounts state that Nash was unarmed and was going to the aid of someone else when he himself was shot.

John Young was killed by a single shot to the head at the rubble barricade on Rossville Street. The bullet entered close to his left eye and travelled backward and downward before exiting through his ribs on the left side of his back. Two eyewitnesses stated that Young was unarmed when he was shot.

Gerald McKinney stood holding his hands above his head in the traditional surrender gesture when a soldier approached and from 9 feet away shot him in the chest.

James Wray initially was only wounded, and lying face down on the pavement (probably paralysed), from a shot in the back; then a soldier, noticing that he was still alive, took a few steps closer, and fired another shot into Wray's back, killing him.

John Johnson was shot and wounded before the fatal shooting started. The soldiers involved claimed that they had come under attack from nailbombs. No other witnesses, civilian or military heard any nailbombs explode at the time of the shooting. John Johnson was hit twice in the incident and died on 16th June 1972.

Wounded (14):

Injuries by British gunfire unless otherwise stated.

Further Reading

The Troubles Tim Pat Coogan, Arrow (Hutchinson), , 1996/1995
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Last modified Monday 18th September 2006
Copyright © 2001 Paul Dunne
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