The peace agreement that was concluded between Great Britain and Ireland 25 years ago constituted the beginning to the end of the violence-ridden period that has come to be known as “The Troubles” in Northern Ireland.
On one side stood Catholics who wanted to see a united Ireland, on the other stood Protestants who wanted to retain ties to Great Britain. Over 3,700 people were killed during the 30-year period when the fighting was at its worst.
Petrol bombs in Derry
It became clear on Monday that the 25th anniversary of the agreement stirs up emotions. Before the anniversary, over 90 different parades and demonstrations had been reported and approved by the local police. Others took the liberty to demonstrate without a permit, whereupon violence broke out in their quarters.
“Our police officers have been attacked in Creggan with petrol bombs and other objects when they were on site at an unannounced Easter parade. No injuries have been reported at this time,” the police agency wrote on Monday afternoon.
Northern Ireland police have also previously warned that armed republicans may carry out attacks on police during the Easter weekend.
“We were born into the war zone”
For many Northern Irish people, however, the anniversary means more than an opportunity to demonstrate, it also serves as a reminder of the importance of peace.
Gleann Doherty was just seven months old when his father was killed on Bloody Sunday in 1972. He remembers how soldiers patrolled the streets and how sudden gun battles were not at all unusual while he was walking to school.
– We were born into this war zone, so we didn’t know anything else, he tells SVT’s team on site in Derry.
The wounds from “The Troubles” are difficult to heal, he says, but anything is better than violence.
– My daughter has not had to experience what I experienced. She has never had to see the British arm on the streets.
Hear Gleann recount his memories of the battles in Derry in the clip above.