Thursday 20th August 2009.

New ‘Ballymurphy Massacre’ Mural unveiled

A new mural highlighting the ‘Ballymurphy Massacre’ was unveiled in Belfast on Saturday 8th August 2009 on the Springfield Road close to the junction with the Whiterock Road This new mural was designed, developed and carried out by the grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other relatives of the 11 innocent  people that were murdered by British soldiers in the Greater Ballymurphy area over a 3 day period in August 1971. This mural was commissioned as part of the ongoing work by the Youth Programme within the  Relatives For Justice ( RFJ) organisation and the young people involved were supported by RFJs 2 youth workers, Liam Stone and Roseanne Doran and by local Ballymurphy artist Risteard Ó Murchú.

The idea of a mural highlighting the massacre was first suggested by the younger members of the Ballymurphy families some time ago and over a 3 month period over the summer of 2009 and by working closely with the artist at every step of the process this idea was developed . Approximately 24 young people were involved in this process and their ages ranged from 7 to almost 30 years old.

The lay out of the wall on which the mural was being painted presented its own challenges to these young people in relation to the design of the mural. The wall was long and narrow unlike the usual murals which are more  square shaped.  After several draft versions had been discussed the young people eventually decided on a design of six sections.

In the first section was the details of when and where the massacre happened and along with contact details of the Ballymurphy Massacre Committee .

Section 1:

The second section was devoted to names of the people that were killed during the massacre. The 11 names were circled around the iconic image of a priest standing over a dying waving a blood stained large white handkerchief. This image was chosen to highlight the fact that one of those killed in Ballymurphy was the local priest Fr. Hugh Mullan and to show the connection between the killings carried out by British soldiers in Ballymurphy in August 1971 and in Derry in January 1972 during Bloody Sunday. Some of the British soldiers involved in the killings of innocent people in August 1971 later carried out the killings of innocent people in Derry in 1972 on Bloody Sunday.

Section 2:

The third section was devoted to the fact that seven of the people killed were themselves parents and highlighted the amount of children and grandchildren that were left without a mother or father or grandparent as a result of this massacre. This section also contains an image of parents or grandparents out with children simply strolling along or pushing a bike or kicking a ball. The young people involved in the mural design all clearly stated that the deaths of their loved ones had robbed them themselves of many of the simple pleasures in life such as going out for a walk with your parent or grandparent. This loss of these simple things is still acutely felt by these young people to this day.

Section 3:

Section 4 of this mural was a new innovation conceived by the young people ( in terms of murals) and it was called the ‘Living Section’. This is where relatives of those killed could write personal messages on an ongoing basis for their dead family members. The young people thought of this concept firstly as a way of showing the very deep hurt and personal pain caused to so many people as a result of their relatives being killed and secondly to demonstrate that the younger members of the families involved are as determined as their own mothers and fathers are  to carry own with this campaign for Truth and Justice. It is the intention of the family members to return to this Living Section to update their own personal messages for their dead relatives

Section 4:

Section 5 was an image of the participation by the Ballymurphy Families and supporters  in a Bloody Sunday march in Derry and was chosen to highlight once again the fact that some British soldiers involved in the killings in Ballymurphy in August 1971 were later involved in the killings in Derry in January 1972.

Section 5:

The 6th and last section is called ‘Time for Truth Time for Justice’ and was aimed at highlighting the core and ongoing demands of the campaign.

The mural was unveiled on Saturday 8th August @ 3.30 after the Walk for Truth through the Upper Springfield held by the Ballymurphy Families to highlight the brutal and savage killings of their loved ones in 19711 by British soldiers. The entire ceremony in relation to the unveiling of the mural were carried out by young family members and was started off by 8 year old Therese Lavery, niece of John Lavery, who opened the proceedings in Irish.  She was followed by 16 year old Emma Bonner, niece of John Laverty, who acted as chair of the unveiling ceremony.

Emma was followed by 21 year old Kirsty Connolly, granddaughter of Joan Connolly, who read out a poem that she had written for all their dead relatives:

‘Grandparents bestow upon
 Your grandchildren
The strength and wisdom that time
And experience have given them

Granny bless our loved ones
As we fight for your innocence
That we stay strong and you will be in our hearts forever

Today we fight for justice and truth
Linking the past and future as we still fight to get the truth
The chain may lengthen but we will still carry on fighting
But we will never give up because we know you were innocent'.

Briege Voyle, daughter of Joan Connolly ended the proceedings by thanking Relatives for Justice and especially all those who participated in the mural project.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE ANY MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE RELATIVE FOR JUSTICES YOUTH PROGRAMME THEN CONTACT EITHER ROSEANN DORAN @ 02890220100 OR BY E-MAIL roseanne.doran@relativsforjustice.com