Call to free republican as 10,000 mark Bloody Sunday

THE British Government faced new demands yesterday to free a republican jailed for refusing to testify to an inquiry into the Bloody Sunday killings.

As more than 10,000 people gathered in Derry for a rally to mark the 33rd anniversary of Bloody Sunday, speakers insisted Martin Doherty’s detention cannot be justified.

Sinn Féin and the SDLP also cast doubt on the chances of the marathon hearing delivering the truth when tribunal chairman Lord Saville finally publishes his report later this year.

Sinn Féin chairman Mitchel McLaughlin told crowds: “Many of us, when Tony Blair announced that he was setting up the inquiry and that it would receive the full co-operation of his government and its agencies, took a very sceptical view of such an announcement.

“The disgraceful imprisonment of Martin ‘Ducksie’ Doherty was just further evidence of the British government and its agencies determination to criminalise republicans rather than expose the truth of its dirty war in Ireland,” he said.

Doherty, 49, from the Creggan area of the city, was jailed for three months for contempt after failing to co-operate with the inquiry into the January 1972 shootings. Known in court as PIRA 9, he became the first person jailed in connection with the hearing.

Despite Derry City Council passing a motion calling on Northern Secretary Paul Murphy to secure his release, the government said last week such a move would be inappropriate.

That refusal incensed Mr McLaughlin, who told the rally: “it is a scandal that Ducksie, an unapologetic Irish republican who wasn’t even present at the march should be the only one to see the inside of a prison because of Bloody Sunday.

“We are here today demanding the truth about Bloody Sunday and we are here in solidarity with Ducksie and his family and we demand his immediate and unconditional release. I reject from this platform Paul Murphy’s claim that he has no powers to intervene.”

SDLP Assembly member Dominic Bradley spoke of the rising concerns about the report’s findings. “Will the Saville Inquiry l uncover the full truth of Bloody Sunday,” he asked. “People are increasingly fearful that Saville will fall short of that standard.

“But in spite of all the doubts and uncertainty, one thing remains absolutely clear: the Bloody Sunday campaign will carry on until truth is served and justice is done,” added Mr Bradley.