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I wish we'd killed Thatcher, says former INLA member as Bogside celebrates I wish we'd killed Thatcher, says former INLA member as Bogside celebrates
(5 months later)
An Irish republican hunger striker has said he wished the terror group he once belonged to had assassinated Lady Thatcher.An Irish republican hunger striker has said he wished the terror group he once belonged to had assassinated Lady Thatcher.
Willie Gallagher, an Irish National Liberation Army prisoner during the Troubles, refused to apologise for a banner urging the late prime minister to "say hello" to her friend Airey Neave. The INLA murdered Neave in Westminster in 1979 just months before Thatcher became prime minister.Willie Gallagher, an Irish National Liberation Army prisoner during the Troubles, refused to apologise for a banner urging the late prime minister to "say hello" to her friend Airey Neave. The INLA murdered Neave in Westminster in 1979 just months before Thatcher became prime minister.
While republicans in Derry held "celebrations" marking Thatcher's funeral, loyalists living in the last Protestant enclave on the city's west bank denounced those gloating over her death as "behaving like animals".While republicans in Derry held "celebrations" marking Thatcher's funeral, loyalists living in the last Protestant enclave on the city's west bank denounced those gloating over her death as "behaving like animals".
Protestant residents on the Fountain estate, which is hemmed up against the city's 17th-century walls, claimed their area had been taking a hammering since republicans began their celebrations over Thatcher's death last week.Protestant residents on the Fountain estate, which is hemmed up against the city's 17th-century walls, claimed their area had been taking a hammering since republicans began their celebrations over Thatcher's death last week.
At a 50-strong protest in Free Derry Corner, at the edge of the Bogside, ex-prisoners and republican militants "celebrated" the funeral with a specially made cake depicting Margaret Thatcher as a war criminal. They also held up a banner on a nearby roundabout mocking her death as well as the Neave assassination.At a 50-strong protest in Free Derry Corner, at the edge of the Bogside, ex-prisoners and republican militants "celebrated" the funeral with a specially made cake depicting Margaret Thatcher as a war criminal. They also held up a banner on a nearby roundabout mocking her death as well as the Neave assassination.
"It's just a pity we didn't kill her 30-plus years ago," Gallagher said. He denied that the banner was a tasteless celebration of someone's death."It's just a pity we didn't kill her 30-plus years ago," Gallagher said. He denied that the banner was a tasteless celebration of someone's death.
"She gloated over the deaths of republicans, like the three IRA members killed by the SAS in Gibraltar, so we republicans have nothing to apologise or be sorry for," he said as passing motorists honked horns in support of the Thatcher death party."She gloated over the deaths of republicans, like the three IRA members killed by the SAS in Gibraltar, so we republicans have nothing to apologise or be sorry for," he said as passing motorists honked horns in support of the Thatcher death party.
A large cavalcade of hardline republicans and their supporters gathered at Free Derry Corner tonight to celebrate Thatcher's death, setting fire to a cardboard coffin with the former prime minister's face on it. They include members of the New IRA's political wing, the 32 County Sovereignty Movement.A large cavalcade of hardline republicans and their supporters gathered at Free Derry Corner tonight to celebrate Thatcher's death, setting fire to a cardboard coffin with the former prime minister's face on it. They include members of the New IRA's political wing, the 32 County Sovereignty Movement.
Several hundred people attended the party, with the police keeping a discreet distance from the crowds, the majority of whom were young men in their twenties and teens.Several hundred people attended the party, with the police keeping a discreet distance from the crowds, the majority of whom were young men in their twenties and teens.
There have been outbreaks of rioting following previous Thatcher-death parties. But youth workers and residents on the Fountain estate said they were just praying the day of Thatcher's funeral would pass quickly.There have been outbreaks of rioting following previous Thatcher-death parties. But youth workers and residents on the Fountain estate said they were just praying the day of Thatcher's funeral would pass quickly.
Inside the Cathedral Youth Club, within sight of Derry's ancient walls, Graham Warke and Phillip Jackson said they were dreading Wednesday night, given earlier republican street celebrations. The district has come under attack for six nights in a row.Inside the Cathedral Youth Club, within sight of Derry's ancient walls, Graham Warke and Phillip Jackson said they were dreading Wednesday night, given earlier republican street celebrations. The district has come under attack for six nights in a row.
"I just can't wait to get this day over with," Warke said. "Residents here are dreading what will happen later.""I just can't wait to get this day over with," Warke said. "Residents here are dreading what will happen later."
Warke played video footage taken on his smartphone of six nights of violent attacks on the small estate. It included very young boys wearing hoodies and football scarves throwing petrol bombs over the city's walls and at police patrols.Warke played video footage taken on his smartphone of six nights of violent attacks on the small estate. It included very young boys wearing hoodies and football scarves throwing petrol bombs over the city's walls and at police patrols.
Jackson said most people on the Fountain, a small district covered in union flags that is home to the last 400 Protestant residents on Derry's West Bank, were "repulsed" over the celebrations.Jackson said most people on the Fountain, a small district covered in union flags that is home to the last 400 Protestant residents on Derry's West Bank, were "repulsed" over the celebrations.
"People on this estate and in all loyalist parts of Londonderry are asking 'how low can these people go by celebrating someone dying?'""People on this estate and in all loyalist parts of Londonderry are asking 'how low can these people go by celebrating someone dying?'"
Jackson claimed he saw older men orchestrating the rioting directed at his area. "Those mocking Mrs Thatcher's death are behaving like animals; it is disgusting the way they get on," he added.Jackson claimed he saw older men orchestrating the rioting directed at his area. "Those mocking Mrs Thatcher's death are behaving like animals; it is disgusting the way they get on," he added.
Amid all the hatred expressed against Thatcher, a man who personifies peace and non-violent resistance had arrived in the city.Amid all the hatred expressed against Thatcher, a man who personifies peace and non-violent resistance had arrived in the city.
The Dalai Lama had come to Derry ahead of a symbolic event leading a cross-community walk across Derry's new Peace Bridge over the river Foyle.The Dalai Lama had come to Derry ahead of a symbolic event leading a cross-community walk across Derry's new Peace Bridge over the river Foyle.
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