On January 30th, 1972, the Parachute Regiment, 1st battalion (“1 Para”), opened fire on a civil rights march in Derry’s Bogside, hitting dozens of people of which fourteen ultimately died.
Seven of the dead were teenagers, including Gerald (“Gerard”) Donaghey/Donaghy, who is featured (in younger days) in the apex of this new mural commemorating the dead, none of whom were judged to be attacking Army soldiers when they were shot.
It was alleged, however, that Donaghey had nail bombs in his pockets. This judgment was upheld in the Saville Report, though most of the people who were with him and who handled his body – including the medical officer who pronounced him dead – did not see any bombs (WP | BelTel). The launch was on June 15th, the same date that the Saville Report was issued in 2010.
The ‘Bloody Sunday ’72’ emblem is to Donaghey’s right – see Bloody Sunday 72 | Domhnach Na Fola | Remember Bloody Sunday. The oak leaf is a symbol of Derry.
Painted by JMK (ig) in Fahan Street, Derry, (on the wall that was briefly home to the Mike Jackson “War Criminal” mural – see From The Top Down). The owner of the gable wall granted permission for the painting of the mural (see the video of the launch on the Museum Of Free Derry’s youtube channel).
The names of the 14 dead and 17 injured on the side walls were painted by Paddy Nelis (tw). His previous work includes the 2013 Brıogáıd Dhoıre mural in Lecky Road and in 2022 (with Razer) the Bogisde mural to his brother, Donncha Mac Nıallaıs.
As a fıan, there is a plaque to Donaghey at the spot where he was killed in Glenfada Park (M09537) and he was included in the roll of honour in Shantallow (X02870).
Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Andy McDonagh/Eclipso Pictures (ig | Fb)
X12622 X12623 X12624 X12625 Gerald Donaghey, Patrick Doherty, Jim Wray, Hugh Gilmour, Michael Kelly, Michael McDaid, Kevin McElhinney, William Nash, Bernard McGuigan, John Johnston, William McKinney, Gerard McKinney, John Young, Jackie Duddy. Bloody Sunday Trust. Damian Donaghy, Margaret Derry, Michael Bridge, Michael Bradley, Pius McCarron, Patrick Brolly, Alana Burke, Thomas Harkin, Alex Nash, Joe Friel, Michael Quinn, Joe Mahon, Patrick O’Donnell, Daniel Gillespie, Patrick Campbell, Daniel McGovern
Extramural Activity 