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The British embassy at Merrion Square in Dublin was
set ablaze after Bloody Sunday. The shootings that day
triggered protests across the Republic of IrelandA wounded man in Belfast, 1972. This year proved “the
worst year of the Troubles, with almost 500 people
killed”, including those who died during Bloody Sunday6YQDQ[UD[CYCNNYKVJITCʛVKVJCVUC[U p,QKP[QWTNQECN
unit – IRA,” in Belfast, 1972. Bloody Sunday sparked a
wave of support for the organisation in Northern IrelandThe organisers were determined to try
to keep the protest peaceful, but there were
some who objected to attempts to prevent
them from going where they wanted to go.
Of course, the presence of British Army
troops was seen as particularly provocative.
It was in reaction to those who were challeng-
ing the British Army – whether that was with
missiles or taunts – that the Parachute
Regiment was mobilised and it was they who
began to shoot at the unarmed protesters.How many people were killed?
These events happened very, very quickly.
Within a few seconds, soldiers had fatally shot
in the back both 22-year-old Jim Wray and
27-year-old William McKinney. This
was another very difficult aspect of Bloody
Sunday – the shooting of civilians in the back.
In total, 13 people were killed outright on
Bloody Sunday, and a fourteenth victim died
later as a result of his injuries. In addition, at
least 13 people were injured, and countless
others were traumatised by the events.What was the immediate aftermath of
Bloody Sunday?
It did enormous damage to Anglo-Irish
relations. If you read the transcript of a
telephone call between the British prime
minister Ted Heath and the Irish taoiseach
(prime minister) Jack Lynch, made on the
night of Bloody Sunday, you can feel the
anguish on the part of Lynch and the defen-
siveness on the part of Heath, who reallyblamed the IRA for – as he put it – trying to
take over the country.
There was also a huge reaction in the
Republic of Ireland, which I think represents
a highpoint of cross-border emotion about the
Troubles. People walked off their jobs on the
Monday after Bloody Sunday. There were all
sorts of impromptu protests – the British
embassy in Dublin was set ablaze.Did the episode lead to increased support
for the IRA?
Most certainly. The IRA enjoyed an upsurge
in enthusiasm for its project and its methods.
There were many who were drawn into its
ranks because of the scale of the anger at
Bloody Sunday; people were queueing up
to join the IRA in Derry/Londonderry after
the shootings.What other impacts did the events that
day have on the Troubles?
Bloody Sunday was a defining moment in the
Troubles. As well as generating huge emo-
tion, it also screamed a political challenge.
Could there be dialogue? Could there be an
attempt to try to bring together the British
and Irish governments to talk about a
potential political solution? Ultimately,
that did gain momentum.
Another fundamental issue raised by the
events was whether or not Northern Ireland
could continue to be run by Northern
Ireland politicians. Bloody Sunday led to the
introduction of direct rule shortly afterwards.Within a few
seconds, soldiers had
fatally shot in the back
both 22-year-old Jim
Wray and 27-year-old
William McKinney