A PLAQUE will be unveiled this evening (7 pm) to two young Derry men who were knocked down and killed by a British Army landrover 35 years.
Family and friend will gather Bull Park facing the Marlborough Terrace entrance for the plaque unveiling.
On Easter Sunday 1981, there was sporadic rioting in the Bogside.
A crowd, including Gary English, had gathered to watch.
Campaigners say that two British Army landrovers came driving down Creggan Hill at speed.
Gary and another young boy called Jim Brown (18) turned to run.
Jim Brown was struck by the leading landrover and thrown some 60 feet into the air. His death would have been instantaneous.
Gary English was also struck by the landrover though it remains unclear whether this was the cause of death.
The patrol leader, Colour Sergeant Smith, dismounted from the vehicle, established that Brown was dead and then proceeded to reverse back over Gary English’s body.
Witnesses were adamant that the landrovers had deliberately ‘aimed’ at the crowd and that the crew of the landrover had a clear vision of the seriously injured boy on the roadway as they reversed.
Despite evidence which should have prompted the Director of Public Prosecutions to charge the driver with murder or manslaughter the DPP chose to treat the incident as a traffic offence.
The driver was charged with reckless driving and acquitted.
Bishop Edward Daly said at the time that he was “disgusted” at the verdict.
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