Is it not time that some organisation took the initiative
in campaigning for a memorial or obelisk to be erected somewhere
in Belfast to honour the memory of all those who died on Bloody
Friday in July 1972 in one of the worst atrocities of the
I.R.A. campaign?
An inquiry costing tens of thousands of millions will go
on for years in Londonderry dealing with the events of Bloody
Sunday in that city in 1972 and it is highly publicised and
many of the witnesses have been highly critical of the British
Army.
Why has there been such a reluctance to spotlight the dreadful
atrocity of Bloody Friday when some 26 I.R.A. bombs exploded
throughout Belfast, killing many innocent people and wounding
and maiming scores of others? The pictures of the aftermath
of this foul atrocity of the mangled remains of victims being
lifted off the footpath close to Oxford Street bus station
sent shockwaves throughout the world.
There were other I.R.A. crimes to equal Bloody Friday in
their ferocity and viciousness, but none to surpass it. Yet
there has been no firm moves made to erect a memorial to those
who died.
The writer can recall interviewing the mother of one of the
victims, a bus driver – an Orangeman – and the poor
woman was stunned and shattered by the murder. Yet she and
other members of her family faced up bravely to the cruel
deed, and they consoled themselves by the conviction that
the murderers would be brought to the bar of justice, and
that the names of their victims would never be forgotten.
Well, neither has happened, and in view of the Belfast Agreement
and the release of so many other murderers and terrorists,
it is highly unlikely that anyone will stand in court accused
of the Bloody Friday slayings.
But something can be done about providing a lasting memorial
to the victims, and if Belfast City Council is not prepared
to do it, then some individuals hopefully will promote the
project.
There has been no hesitation on the part of the Provos and
their friends erecting memorials to the ‘volunteers’
killed in the course of their campaign, so why should there
be a delay in honouring the memory of the innocents who lost
their lives in such terrible circumstances?
The horror at the time, even in a year like 1972 when over
400 people were killed was palpable. But the father of one
of the murdered children, a minister of religion, defused
to some extent the feelings of outrage by his deep Christian
magnanimity and his appeal to not just the men of violence,
but everyone in Northern Ireland to respond to the atrocity
by a total rejection of violence.
Sadly, those who carried out the atrocity did not respond
by coming forward, publicly apologising for their dastardly
deed and asking for the forgiveness of the families of those
wronged.
It is now time for Northern Ireland to pay tribute to the
memory of those good people who died on the streets of Belfast
while going about their lawful business. Belatedly, perhaps,
but better late than never, and the fear is that if this action
is delayed the matter will be allowed to fade into the background
without a memorial being erected.
There are memorials in Londonderry to those who died on Bloody
Sunday, a memorial in Talbot Street, Dublin, to the victims
of an explosion claimed by loyalist paramilitaries in 1974,
and numerous memorials to members of all paramilitary groups
who died in the past 30 years. It is time to publicly honour
the memory of the people of Belfast who died on that terrible
day in July 1972 from an evil and devilish deed.
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