Veterans' Londonderry march '˜act of pure provocation'

Around 100 military veterans are expected to march through the city on March 4 to protest against the ongoing “vindictive” criminal investigations involving former soldiers.

The parade is organised by Justice for Veterans UK, and will make its way from the Royal British Legion building in the Waterside on March 4, to the Diamond in Londonderry’s city centre, where a wreath will be laid at the cenotaph.

John Kelly, whose 17-year-old brother Michael was shot dead on Bloody Sunday, described the march as “an act of pure provocation” and “a deliberate insult”.

He said: “This march by British Army veterans has been orchestrated for the sole purpose of inciting anger and upsetting the people of this city and it must not be allowed to happen.

“Clearly, this is an act of pure provocation and is totally insensitive to the nationalist population. It’s a deliberate insult. People in this city felt the wrath of the British Army when their loved ones died at the hands of these killers – killers who may be within the ranks yet have never been brought before the courts. This march gives two fingers to anyone hurt or traumatised by the British Army’s murderous actions.”

He added: “The realisation that prosecutions are a possibility has prompted this march and now veterans are calling for the non-prosecution of murderers? What a joke. These people are not only belittling the suffering caused to people here, they’re also attempting to undermine the rule of law. This is unacceptable.”

Minty Thompson, whose 47-year-old mother Kathleen was shot dead by a British soldier in 1971, echoed that sentiment in a statement issued on behalf of the Bloody Sunday Trust.

She said: “To hold this march in Derry is a deliberately provocative act. This city has clearly been chosen because it was the scene of one of the most horrific acts of state violence in our history, Bloody Sunday, and because soldiers who were involved in that event, who shot down innocent and unarmed people on our streets, are at long last being investigated for their actions.

“British soldiers should not be above the law, they cannot be above the law, and there should be no credence given to hypocritical demands that they should.”

She added: “Why should they have immunity for their crimes?”