Peterloo 1819 to Derry 1972. Civil Rights protesters killed, no one held to account
On Monday 16th August 1819 a protest for the vote in central Manchester was attacked by the Yeomanry, soldiers on horse back with sabres. 16 were killed and many others injured. No one was ever held to account although Henry Hunt the speaker on that day was jailed. It became known as Peterloo.
In the Making of the English Working Class E P Thompson argued that one key outcome of Peterloo was that the Government would never again peaceful political protesters, (different ‘rules’ apply for industrial disputes and other forms of protest).
The book was published in 1963 and on Sunday 30th January 1972, in Northern Ireland rather than England it did happen again. A march in Derry to protest against internment in jail without trial was attacked by paratroopers. 14 were killed and others injured.
Two inquiries were held Widgery and later Saville. The latter took many years to report but was clear that there was no justification for shooting protesters. David Cameron apologised but no one has ever been successfully prosecuted.
Such an event, although relatively rare historically in the UK, could happen again and if it does no manner of inquiries is likely to see anyone held responsible enough to call them to account
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