Congress Welcomes Vindication for Bloody Sunday Families
18 Jun 2010
Congress has welcomed the Saville Report's vindication of the campaign by the families of the victims of Bloody Sunday in Derry.
Speaking to an audience of trade unionists, Congress General Secretary David Begg said: "The courage and fortitude of the families of the 14 innocent civilians unlawfully killed by the Parachute Regiment 38 years ago deserves to be saluted and respected by all men and women of good will. The unequivocal findings by Lord Saville demonstrate the justice of a campaign which struggled for decades to receive attention and vindication.
"Congress wishes to take this opportunity to acknowledge the hard work carried out in support of this campaign for justice by many people who refused to let political expediency take precedence over the quest for truth - among those who struggled for the truth to be recognised were clergy from all faiths, supporters from all corners of the globe and many people within our own movement, most notably the activists of Derry Trades Council.
"Finally, it must be noted that the actions of leading clergy from the main Protestant churches in welcoming the Saville Report and their public embrace of the Bloody Sunday families shows real leadership and commitment to reconciliation. Their action, coupled with the frankness of the British state and the dignity of the families themselves, proves that the quest for truth need not be a barrier for reconciliation - in fact, the acknowledgement of truth can act as a bridge towards greater understanding among all of the victims and survivors of violence, North and South."
ends
Irish Congress of Trade Unions,
32 Parnell Square, Dublin 1.
Tel: (01) 889 7799; m 087 9174171