About 60 people attended a rally on the outskirts of Derry yesterday to mark the 30th anniversary of an attack by loyalists on a students' civil rights march at Burntollet bridge, on the main Derry to Dungiven road.
The rally was organised by the Friends Of '69 Group. Among those present were Sinn Fein Assembly members Mr Mitchell McLaughlin and Mrs Mary Nelis. The group's spokesman, Mr Barney O'Hagan, said it was important that the attack by loyalists, some of whom were members of the now-disbanded B-Specials, should be commemorated.
"It was an attack on the entire civil rights movement and it was symptomatic of the Stormont government's attitude to peaceful protest," he said. "The events at Burntollet bridge had a profound impact on the history of the Six Counties and was one of a series of events which happened 30 years ago which affected the lives of thousands of people," said Mr O'Hagan.
Meanwhile, Mr Eamon O'Hara, who was present at Burntollet bridge both yesterday and 30 years ago, said the attack had a detrimental effect on community relations in the Dungiven-Claudy area.
"I came down to lend my support to the marchers. I didn't know any of them but I believed in what they were about. But I did know most of the attackers. They were neighbours of mine and many times I played darts matches with them.
"We continued to play darts, but it wasn't the same after Burntollet bridge," he said.