Bloody Sunday - A Derry Diary

In this moving documentary, we witness the Bloody Sunday Inquiry from the point of view of the families of the victims, who today are still coming to terms with events of that tragic day, 35 years ago.

On 30th January 1972 the British Army shot dead thirteen unarmed civilians on a civil rights march in Derry, Northern Ireland. At the subsequent Tribunal of Inquiry, Lord Chief Justice Widgery exonerated the soldiers and blighted the reputation of those who were killed and wounded by describing them as gunmen and bombers. In 1998 a new Tribunal of Inquiry was announced into the day that has become known as Bloody Sunday.

Bloody Sunday: A Derry Diary follows the course of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry from the point of view of the families of the victims as they travelled between Derry and London over a five year period. The filmmaker, Margo Harkin, was an eye witness to Bloody Sunday and gave evidence to the Tribunal of Inquiry.

This strong and moving documentary gives another side to the story of that tragic day. Through Margo's personal insight and sensitive interviewing techniques we are introduced to the people whose lives have been dramatically changed and impacted on as a result of Bloody Sunday. We hear many heart wrenching eye witness accounts of families and friends of the dead, and those wounded on the day.

We hear about the main players from both sides and the evidence they gave to the tribunal. We also hear Margo's own memories of the day and meet Eamon McCann, who followed the tribunal closely over six years from 1998 to 2004. Bishop Edward Daly, who was also present on the day and did his best to aid the wounded, gives us his account of the tragic events.

Bloody Sunday: a Derry Diary was commissioned to tie in with the publication of the Bloody Sunday Report, which the families have now been told not to expect until late 2007 or early 2008.

Bloody Sunday, a Derry Diary was previewed at the Belfast Film Festival in February 2006 and at the Stranger Than Fiction Festival in Dublin, in September 2006. It was shown again as a work in progress at the Foyle Film Festival in November 2006. It is also being shown as part of the FIPA International festival in Biarritz in France in January 2007.

The film has been financed by RTÉ, ZDF (Germany) for Arte, the Northern Ireland Film & Television Commission, and the Irish Film Board/Bord Scannán na hÉireann.