Transcript Bloody Sunday

Bloody Sunday
Starter
Ireland in Schools
Durham Pilot Scheme
Song: ‘Ordinary Sunday’ by Athenrye (40-second excerpt)
When: 30 January 1972
Where: Londonderry/Derry, Northern Ireland
Occasion: Civil rights demonstration against internment
What happened: 13 civilians were shot dead by British paratroopers
The controversy: Who fired the first shot - the IRA or the paratroopers?
Who fired first?
Did the army respond to IRA fire, or did the soldiers fire recklessly?
Father Edward Daly
Roman Catholic Priest
Lt-Col. Derek Wilford
Paratroops commander
‘There was no
provocation
whatsoever.’
‘I personally
had shots fired
at me.’
Video interview
Video interview
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=1520083688726792087
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=63637
63681504545954
Now watch a short video shot on the day.
How far does it help you to decide
who fired first?
Were the paratroopers fired on first?
Or
Did they fire recklessly?
Click here to start video
http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=6105142505054549030
How far, if at all, did the video help you
to decide who fired first?
Were the paratroopers fired on first?
Or
Did they fire recklessly?
You have considered the question which has long
exercised people.
Now, in groups of 4, consider
what other questions you think should be asked
about Bloody Sunday?
Report your findings to the rest of the class.
Click here for some suggestions
Some possible further questions about Bloody Sunday
The march
Given the previous troubles in Londonderry,
• why did Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association decide upon the march
• why did the government allow the march?
Internment
Why did NICRA feel so strongly about internment?
Why was internment introduced?
How well-thought-out and executed was the policy on internment?
Why did the government continue with internment when it proved so controversial?
Violence
What was the cause of the violence that prompted internment?
Effects
What were the immediate and longer-term effects of Bloody Sunday?
Did it cause people to consider the cost of violence or did it increase tension and
violence?
What effect did it have of the government of Northern Ireland and its relations with
Westminster?
Start again
End