This day in Ireland 41 years ago....

[Catalpa]

4 January 1969: The ‘Peoples Democracy’ March from Belfast to Derry was attacked at Burntollet Bridge by Loyalists on this day. The RUC flanking the procession failed to offer any meaningful procession to the marchers as they were assaulted and beaten. The original march had begun from Queens University in Belfast on 1 January and was undertaken to highlight the lack of Civil Rights in the North of Ireland. Along the way to Derry the marchers had been continually heckled and occasionally attacked. However when they reached the narrow defile at Burntollet outside Derry City they were the victims of an organised ambush and viciously attacked by a Loyalist mob. The RUC who were in attendance made no serious attempt to intervene and thus encouraged the attackers that kept up their assault as the marchers ran the gauntlet through to the other side.

One eyewitness described what he saw:

"The major portion of the C.R. procession was cut off and left at the mercy of the attackers. A fusillade of stones and bottles was followed by the full weight of the attack against the young men and women who had pledged themselves to a policy of non-violence.
"The attackers showed no mercy. Men were beaten senseless. Girls tore their way through the hedges screaming: 'No! No!' Shouting, club-waving, men pursued them."

Irish News

Eventually the marchers got through, but not before many of them, incl women and girls, had been attacked and beaten and some seriously injured. Those still able then made their went into Derry and the sanctuary of those of their own persuasion.

[staunch ff]

Interesting reminder. Have argued many times with Brits in Yahoo and Paltalk about how the "troubles" started in NI but could never refer to a site on internet that proved my case that the violance that triggered the formation of the Provos came from the Unionist side

[joel]

Interesting reminder. Have argued many times with Brits in Yahoo and Paltalk about how the "troubles" started in NI but could never refer to a site on internet that proved my case that the violance that triggered the formation of the Provos came from the Unionist side

Don't forget the murders of the barmen.

[alan1122]

Only 41 years, and it looks on tv like nazi germany !. reminded of how a seemingly civil serb community butchered their neighbours in 92, and rwanda also decended in a very short time span. Not of course on the same scale but Something like burntollet could happen again and what could follow nobody wants.