1. Preface

This document is not intended to be the definitive report on events in Derry following on from the Drumcree stand off that began on 7 July 1996. It is the result of two weeks intense activity, compiling news articles, interviews and over 100 witness statements. It's purpose is strictly limited, to highlight the abuse and denial of human rights in Derry over the period in question. The witness statements were taken by staff from the Belfast based Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) and members of the Pat Finucane Centre. The presence of the CAJ that weekend in Derry was vital. They will produce their own report covering incidents throughout the North in the near future.

Many people helped in the production of this document and lent their time, energy and creativity. Some did not wish to be named. We express our appreciation to them all. In particular we thank the photographers who gave us access to their work. The Centre as always takes full responsibility for the views expressed here.

In reading the witness statements and conducting the interviews we were moved by the many acts of decency and courage shown by the people of this city: those who opened up their houses for the injured; the staff and ambulance crews at Altnagelvin and Letterkenny hospitals; those who, risking serious injury, rescued others who had been struck by plastic bullets; the people in Newbuildings who stopped the local Catholic chapel being burnt . . . the list goes on.

© Pat Finucane Centre 1996

The Pat Finucane Centre was established in 1989 as an independent resource centre. It is the home of a number of independant education and action projects which exists to promote respect for human rights, dignity and justice within Ireland and internationally, and to encourage creative and imaginative political action around the future of Ireland. The Centre is named after Pat Finucane, a human rights lawyer, who was murdered by the UDA on 12 February 1989.

The Pat Finucane Centre can be contacted at:
1 West End Park, Derry, BT48 9JF, Ireland.
Telephone: 01504 268846
Fax: 01504 266453
email: pfc@www.serve.com

This document is available on the World Wide Web at the following URL: http://www.serve.com/pfc/july96/

Many thanks to the Derry Journal, Jarleth Kearney, Crispin Rodwell, Geraldine Emsley and Oisín Mac Bride for the photographs