JUDE COLLINS: John Hume was half-right with his Bloody Sunday quote

JUDE COLLINS: John Hume's Bloody Sunday Quote

Many people today remain indifferent to the events of Bloody Sunday 1972. This is understandable—many were not born then, do not live in Derry or the Bogside, and over fifty years have passed with other concerns taking precedence. However, the families and community closely connected to that day have never forgotten.

Last week, the pain resurfaced sharply when Soldier F was acquitted of all murder charges. It took fifty-three years for a British soldier to stand trial for the incident, and yet the verdict was not guilty.

John Hume’s Reflection

“Many people down there feel now it’s a united Ireland or nothing. Alienation is pretty total.”

John Hume was partially incorrect in this statement. While a united Ireland has not been realized even after five decades, his observation about profound alienation remains true. The relatives’ reactions to the verdict expressed deep disgust, highlighting ongoing grievances.

Community Response

The iconic Free Derry mural was altered to declare: "There is no British justice." This change reflects the community's feelings of betrayal and injustice.

It is difficult to grasp that, after the British army allegedly killed eight innocent people in Ballymurphy and later entered the Bogside, thirteen more were deliberately shot, with a fourteenth dying later. At the time, Home Secretary Reginald Maudling stated the British army “came under fire,” adding to the conflict’s complexity.

Summary

The Bloody Sunday case demonstrates the lasting pain of unresolved historical wounds and the persistent sense of injustice in Northern Ireland.

Author's summary: Despite decades passing, the Bloody Sunday verdict reveals deep community alienation and ongoing calls for justice in Northern Ireland.

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Belfast Media Group Belfast Media Group — 2025-11-02

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