Jan. 31, 1972: Bloody Sunday: Dublin wants inquiry into killing of 13 civilians
Belfast, Northern Ireland (AP) — The Irish Republican Army retaliated with bombs and the Irish Republic summoned home its ambassador in Britain today on the heels of the killing of 13 civilians in a battle with British Army troops in Londonderry.
The Catholics struck back Monday with bomb blasts, fires, strikes, demonstrations and torrents of abuse.
Barricades made of hijacked vehicles blazed in Belfast, and clouds of smoke rose from a burning brewery and saloon. Mobs tried unsuccessfully three times to burn down the British Embassy in Dublin, capital of the Irish Republic.
An announcement by the Irish government of Prime Minister Jack Lynch in the south said the Dublin Cabinet is satisfied that British troops opened an unprovoked attack on unarmed civilians Sunday in the Roman Catholic bogside district of Londonderry.
Lynch’s government also launched a campaign for an international inquiry into the killings.
Lynch announced the action after a hastily called Cabinet meeting. He said his foreign minister, Patrick Hillery, will go to New York for talks with U.N. Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim. Hillery will also visit “heads of friendly governments” to explain the Irish government’s position in an bid to set up an international inquiry into the shootings.
In London, the British government announced it would start an independent inquiry into the shootings.
This continues the Appeal’s review of news stories and headlines during its Sesquicentennial year.