Several hundred people have tonight attended the unveiling of a plaque to two Derry teenagers killed by British soldiers in the city 35 years ago tomorrow.
Gary English (19) and Jim Brown (18) were knocked down and killed at Creggan Cross by a British army landrover on Easter Sunday, 19 April, 1981
The plaque, located on the gable wall of a house on Creggan Street close to the scene, was unveiled by Gary English’s father, Michael, Jim Brown’s sister, Jackie.
Addressing those present, Charlie McMenamin, of the Bogside and Brandywell Monument Committee, recalled the events around the killings and slammed the British justice system.
He said: “This is a very emotional time for many people here who knew both Gary and Jim, and who were growing up in this city during the hunger strike period.
“It was a very intense time in Derry, with the daily riots on our streets and protests attended by thousands of people.
“We should also remember those who died on our streets in the weeks after Gary and Jim’s murders as a result of actions of the RUC and British army.- Paul Whitters, Henry Duffy and \volunteers George McBrearty and Charles ‘Pop’ Maguire.
“People think of collusion as the use of informers and agents of the RUC, assisting loyalists in murder by providing weapons, information and cover.
“However, collusion can also be found within the British justice system.
“State agencies and departments, established to uphold the law and protect citizens, sometimes collude to prevent the truth from being told, thus preventing justice.
“In effect, the law makers become the law breakers.
“The story of the deaths of Gary and Jim demonstrates how state agencies colluded to stop families accessing the truth over the murder of two young Derry men.”
Recalling the events of 35 years ago, he added: “On the evening of Easter Sunday, 19th April, 1981, seven weeks into the second hunger strike, a group of youths engaged in stone throwing in Infirmary Road.
“Two British army jeeps came hurtling down Creggan Road and into the junction, one of the jeeps striking Jim Brown and Gary English,.and a third youth who was able to run from the scene.
“Jim Brown died instantly, the jeep then reversed over Gary English.”
Mr McMenamin concluded: “The events of that night and the subsequent trial raise many questions about the British justice system and, unfortutnately, this is not an isolated incident during the conflict in Ireland – set the truth free!”
Sinn Fein MLA Maeve McLaughlin told the gathering collusion between loyalist death squads and the British army, RUC and various agencies of the British state had caused “deep hurt” in nationalist communities, particularly on the streets of Derry and across their North, especially their use of plastic bullets.
She called for the full implementation of the Stormont House Agreement to allow relatives of victimss of collusion, and all relatives who were campaigning for truth, to get some “sense of closue.”
She added: “The British government can no longer hide behind the exuse of cost to continue to deny truth and justice to the relatives of victims of state violence and collusion.
“It has a responsibility to deal with the past.”
She concluded: “We will continue to support Gary and Jim’s families and all relatives of victims of state violence in their long campaign for access to truth and justice.
Pictured at the unveiling of the plaque were, from left, Jim Brown’s sister, Jackie, Deputy First Minister, Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness, Gary English’s father, Michael, and Maeve McLaughlin, Sinn Fein MLA.
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