Monument unveiled to 14-year-old Croke Park Bloody Sunday victim

A monument to a 14-year-old boy who was shot and killed during Bloody Sunday at Croke Park in 1920 has been unveiled in Dublin's Glasnevin Cemetery.
By The Newsroom
Published 21st Nov 2018, 14:14 BST
Updated 21st Nov 2018, 15:22 BST
A monument to 14-year-old John William Scott, who was shot and killed on Bloody Sunday at Croke Park in 1920 when British forces opened fire during a GAA match, is unveiled by GAA president John Horan (left) in Dublin's Glasnevin cemetery.A monument to 14-year-old John William Scott, who was shot and killed on Bloody Sunday at Croke Park in 1920 when British forces opened fire during a GAA match, is unveiled by GAA president John Horan (left) in Dublin's Glasnevin cemetery.
A monument to 14-year-old John William Scott, who was shot and killed on Bloody Sunday at Croke Park in 1920 when British forces opened fire during a GAA match, is unveiled by GAA president John Horan (left) in Dublin's Glasnevin cemetery.

John William Scott was killed when British forces opened fire during a GAA match.

On Wednesday, the 98th anniversary of the shooting, the GAA held a ceremony at Scott's previously unmarked grave.

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Scott was one of 14 people killed while attending the Dublin-Tipperary football match, and he suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the chest.

Dublin GAA manager Jim Gavin (left) at the unveiling of a monument to 14-year-old John William Scott, who was shot and killed on Bloody Sunday at Croke Park in 1920 when British forces opened fire during a GAA match, in Dublin's Glasnevin cemeteryDublin GAA manager Jim Gavin (left) at the unveiling of a monument to 14-year-old John William Scott, who was shot and killed on Bloody Sunday at Croke Park in 1920 when British forces opened fire during a GAA match, in Dublin's Glasnevin cemetery
Dublin GAA manager Jim Gavin (left) at the unveiling of a monument to 14-year-old John William Scott, who was shot and killed on Bloody Sunday at Croke Park in 1920 when British forces opened fire during a GAA match, in Dublin's Glasnevin cemetery

Tipperary player Mick Hogan, 24, was the only footballer killed on the day, and he was shot while trying to escape the pitch.

Scott was one of three children killed in the tragedy and among eight of the victims buried in unmarked graves.

People at the time often did not mark the graves as they were opposed to drawing attention to the tragedy, which has been classed by historians as one of the darkest days in Irish history.

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GAA president John Horan unveiled the monument as part of the association's Bloody Sunday Graves Project which has been identifying the graves of those killed.

A monument to 14-year-old John William Scott, who was shot and killed on Bloody Sunday at Croke Park in 1920 when British forces opened fire during a GAA match, is unveiled in Dublin's Glasnevin cemetery.A monument to 14-year-old John William Scott, who was shot and killed on Bloody Sunday at Croke Park in 1920 when British forces opened fire during a GAA match, is unveiled in Dublin's Glasnevin cemetery.
A monument to 14-year-old John William Scott, who was shot and killed on Bloody Sunday at Croke Park in 1920 when British forces opened fire during a GAA match, is unveiled in Dublin's Glasnevin cemetery.

He said: "We can all empathise with him, of going down to Croke Park to watch a game of football.

"But Billy, as he was known, unfortunately never came home, and his life was taken from him.

"His father had to encounter being given his glasses and tie pin as an indication that Billy had been fatally wounded on the pitch.

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"A tragedy for his family, a tragedy for our country, and unfortunately Billy has no remaining family among us, but we are here as his GAA family to acknowledge and remember him, and to put this stone in place so he can be remembered as a victim of that tragic day."

The project hopes to have every unmarked grave recognised with a monument before the centenary in 2020.

Related topics:BillyPeople