This report by Lynda Walker was first published in Unity, the weekly publication of the Irish Communist Party.
On the 1st of February 2026 the annual Bloody Sunday march took a place in Derry observing the day in 1972 when 26 people were shot-14 of them killed by the British Army Paratroopers.
Leading the march were relatives of those who were killed or injured. Also taking part were civil rights veterans and comrades including Irish Communist Party members.
A significant number of young people were present, a factor that Bernadette Devlin noted. She said that that 54 years ago (as a young woman) she was speaking on the Civil Right platform and that she had no idea that she would be witnessing the killing of people on the streets of Derry. Referring to the “young people here today”, she said they were ready for the struggle to win a world, to get rid of injustices, war and violence. The Connolly Youth Movement had a substantial contingent there.
Many of the marchers carried the Palestinian flag, placards, and wore the black and white keffiyeh. A significant number of people also carried placards with slogans relating to soldier F and others who have not been brought to justice for the killings.
The march wound its way down to Rossville street where speakers took to the stage. These included Saeb Shaath-Gaza born Saeb who is the former head of the Palestinian Delegation to Ireland he spoke from first-hand experience of both the situation in Gaza and the political landscape in Ireland.
Geraldine Doherty – niece of Bloody Sunday victim Gerald Donaghy spoke about the long sought justice for her uncle who was framed by the state when they planted nail bombs on his body. This past year being particularly challenging due to the ruling on Soldier F.
Liam Wray – Brother of Bloody Sunday victim James Wray also spoke. Liam has been a stalwart campaigner for justice for the Bloody Sunday families, and for all those who have suffered at the hands of the state.
As noted Bernadette Devlin-McAliskey spoke – A name that needed no introduction in Derry. She was one of the original organisers of the Bloody Sunday march in 1972, a former MP, a life-long political organiser and activist. Bernadette closed the meeting with a long but motivational speech that touched on many subject from raising funds for Palestine to demanding justice for Bloody Sunday killings. She spoke how global capitalism was becoming global fascism and the need to fight both.
Churches support the Families of those killed on Bloody Sunday
The Bishop of Derry has questioned the decision not to prosecute former soldiers who were investigated for giving false evidence over Bloody Sunday.
Thirteen people were killed and 15 wounded on Bloody Sunday: Last week, the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) upheld its April 2024 decision not to prosecute eight surviving soldiers out of the 15 who were investigated for perjury at the Bloody Sunday Inquiry.
Bishop Donal McKeown said “truth and justice have to come out at some stage” and “sometimes it seems impossible through the legal systems”…“The struggle continues” McKeown told BBC Radio Foyle’s North West Today programme. He said the Bloody Sunday families “deserve our full support and our full encouragement”. “We will encourage them to keep going as far as they can, for as long as they can.”
Speaking at a separate commemoration earlier in the day, Reverend David Latimer, formerly the minister at First Derry Presbyterian Church, said he, too, did not agree with the PPS decision. “That’s why all the more I’m happy to stand with these families, let’s unite with them, justice must be top of the agenda,” he said.