The dirty war in Northern Ireland continues to echo.
On Thursday, October 23, British Judge Patrick Lynch (yes, Judge Lynch) delivered a verdict in the trial of a British Paratrooper known only as “Soldier F.” The veteran of the Parachute Regiment, who was not identified and was screened from public view, was charged with two counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder, stemming from the events of Bloody Sunday in 1972. Thirteen demonstrators were shot dead in a January 30, 1972, protest in Derry, Northern Ireland, kicking what became known as The Troubles into high gear.
A summary from BBC:
• A former paratrooper has been found not guilty of all the charges against him
• Soldier F, whose anonymity is protected by a court order, faced charges of murdering James Wray and William McKinney, as well as five charges of attempted murder, in Londonderry in 1972
• Judge Patrick Lynch said the sole evidence against Soldier F was from two other veterans, Soldiers G and H, and said there were difficulties in relying on it
• However, he stated that Soldier F, along with Soldiers G, H, and E “had totally lost all sense of military discipline” on that day
• Speaking afterwards Mickey McKinney, whose brother William was shot and killed on Bloody Sunday, said the British state and police “failed to investigate the murders on Bloody Sunday properly or indeed at all”
• Following the verdict, a government spokesperson said the Ministry of Defence is “committed to finding a way forward that acknowledges the past, whilst supporting those who served their country”
• Northern Ireland’s first minister, Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill, said the verdict was a “continued denial of justice”, DUP leader Gavin Robinson said it was a “common sense judgement”
Hammer says
Sadly, there is more and more evidence that the British whitewashing of history and rampant censorship will continue, and at record pace, given new technological tools. Just look at the media coverage (or lack thereof…) of the riots happening in Dublin right now, and more importantly, WHY they are happening. I’m honestly beginning to wonder at what point we need to re-consider whether Britain is still a “democratic, free country’ anymore.
JimC says
Had a conversation with Deuce Richardson about the Irish situation yesterday. He made multiple visits there, and things changed considerably over a period of a very few years.
Quixotic Mainer says
From what I’ve seen it certainly has. Sadly the Irish appear to be going through it. The wife and I drove most of the island in 2018, in a hilarious rented Skoda. She has family around Donegal. I saw very few places and people that raised my hackles there , but I’m afraid the experience would differ today.
deuce says
QM, I would say that you and your wife, luckily, enjoyed a true “Celtic Twilight” in 2013. In 2014–when I visited for the Clontarf millennial–Dublin had OBVIOUSLY changed since my wonderful visit in 2002. In 2019, it might as well have been New York or London. Ireland is losing its ‘Irishness’ at a shocking rate.
That said, the Irish APPEAR to have had enough. The native Irish are being turned out on the streets for the accommodation of rapists and murderers. Irish hospitality is wearing thin.