Now on bbc news peter taylor meets, the real derry girls. Derry, or londonderry. Famous for its murals, notorious for its troubles, and now celebrated in the Television Series derry girls. Ive been talking to the real derry girls, who, like their tv counterparts, are gutsy, funny, and brave. Im sinead, iwas counterparts, are gutsy, funny, and brave. Im sinead, i was born in the bogside in 1981. Im the only participant in the derry girls. They couldnt have the bus across the street like the ira wanted. They we re street like the ira wanted. They were going to shoot them. street like the ira wanted. They were going to shoot them. I am 10096 were going to shoot them. I am 100 a derry girls. I get quite a lot of stick, thats why i love them all l man and his wife and child were injured in the obama. My families experienced the troubles, and his cousin was murdered on bloody sunday. That was the worst experience we had during the troubles. Injured in the bombing. Derry has been part of my working life for almost half a century since i first set that in the city in 1972. On that dreadful day that became forever known as bloody sunday. When you think about bloody sunday, there is one particular image, i think, sunday, there is one particular image, ithink, that sunday, there is one particular image, i think, that comes to the mind ofa image, i think, that comes to the mind of a lot of people. It is the one where there is a ship and some men were carrying jackie. And the man with the cap behind the bishop, thatis man with the cap behind the bishop, that is my father. Liam bradley. It was on that day paratroopers shot dead 13 innocent civilians, taking pa rt dead 13 innocent civilians, taking part ina dead 13 innocent civilians, taking part in a civil rights march. It was my shocking initiation into reporting for conflict in ireland. The painful legacy lives on. Reporting for conflict in ireland. The painful legacy lives onlj reporting for conflict in ireland. The painful legacy lives on. I think you would have to go far to find a family not touched by the troubles during this time, especially because of bloody sunday. It stretched and reached so many homes. With the fight for decades, they had innocent peoples names cleared. Few families in their tight knit community remained untouched by the so called troubles. Loved ones ended dead. Fathers and sons injail. |j troubles. Loved ones ended dead. Fathers and sons in jail. I first met my dad in the long cage visitors room. I have memories being 3. 5 yea rs old room. I have memories being 3. 5 years old there and he always gave mea barof years old there and he always gave me a bar of chocolate. I do remember being in the kitchen and listening to the bangs out the window and hearing my granny saying prayers, throwing me under the table. I remember the bangs as well. M throwing me under the table. I remember the bangs as well. It was here in derry that the seeds of the hard won peace were sown. This is derrys Mauricio Pochettino peace bridge, it was opened on the good friday agreement in 1998. It was the signal of a bright new future not only for derry but the whole of Northern Ireland. That future is now overshadowed by brexit and the threat of violence from dissident republicans. It was the so called new ira that murdered journalist lyra mckee just over six new ira that murdered journalist lyra mckeejust over six months new ira that murdered journalist lyra mckee just over six months ago. She had become part of the real derry girls with her partner, sara canning. For the group, derry girls with her partner, sara canning. Forthe group, this derry girls with her partner, sara canning. For the group, this photo is very special, because one of those watching the television is lyra we had all gathered in here and we we re lyra we had all gathered in here and we were watching i think it was the First Episode of derry girls. All members of the group, bar one, are pa rt members of the group, bar one, are part of derrys lgbt community. They are all incredibly close and supportive of one another. Lyra and her partner were warmly embraced and soon lyra became an integral part of the band of sisters. She was funny, smart and intelligent. She was a bundle of energy and she had a really infectious laugh. We joked about Retirement Homes when we were 70 or80 orwaking up about Retirement Homes when we were 70 or 80 or waking up with dementia together. I loved her, i absolutely did. She was brilliant. She always got us together and it was her organising parties and saturday nights and things like that. She clicked with us also well from the start. I think are moving to derry cemented the fact that she was in the derry girls club. Definitely. Before she came to derry, lyra had already been recognised at the age of 1a is already been recognised at the age 01 14 isa already been recognised at the age 01 14 is a talented young campaigning journalist. Even then, a rising star. She was passionate to address the alienation of young people. It showed me what i can do and it has mapped out my career for me. I know this is my vocation and just what i want to do. What she wrote was so pertinent. Lyra talked about the post ceasefire babies. There was so much hope at the time, when the good friday agreement was signed, there was so much hope for change, that there would be massive change, that there would be massive change but there has been nothing but struggle and fighting over the la st but struggle and fighting over the last 20 years, albeit in a different format in stormont. One of the things she wrote, we were the good friday agreement generation, destined never to witness the horrors of war but reap the spoils of peace. The spoils never seemed to reach us. It spoke to me so much, before i even met her. In the north west, we havent seen the spoils of peace. The creggan estate is one of the most deprived areas in the united kingdom. Its poverty providing the soil in which the dissident new ira has been able to grow. It was formed in 2012, and followed four years later by the ha rd left followed four years later by the hard left wing. Paddy gallagher is their spokesman in derry. This is a poster they have put up . Yes, it highlights the message that states this band have rebranded. It is basically psn i in a different guise. A lot of people in the area and republican areas are opposed to British Crime forces. The police . They do not trust them all see the need for them. Just over six months ago, relying on intelligence, police searched a house on the creggan for explosives. There were concerns an attack was being planned. None was found. A riot broke out. Lyra was standing by a Police Land Rover covering the events as a journalist. A gunman opened fire at police but killed lyra. I was there, i saw lyra fall and land on the ground. I did not believe even right up until arriving at the hospital that she had been shot. I could not believe thatis had been shot. I could not believe that is what happened in creggan. Any gallaher was also in the vicinity on the night of the riot. Penny gallagher. Mckay number of people came out and resisted British Crime forces, for want of a better word. Unfortunately resulted any death of lyra mckee. Where was the gunmen . From footage i have seen, it appears he was around this area. Gunmen . From footage i have seen, it appears he was around this arealj use appears he was around this areal use surprised nobody has been charged with the murder of lyra mckee . Not really, why not . People have called for members of the community to inform but people in this Community Know the life of an informer. Theyjudge by history and know exactly what happens to informers. If they give information . Yes. They blame the police for lyras death, claiming crown forces initiated the riot by raiding the house. It was more than herfriends could take. Four days after her murder, they decided to act to show their anger and disgust in the most public way possible. It was kathleens idea. That was the symbolism of the blood on their hands for what they had done. We all agreed. We would make sure it was donein agreed. We would make sure it was done ina agreed. We would make sure it was done in a dignified fashion. Nothing was done that would be adverse to lyras memory. We went down and took red paint with us and had our gloves with us. We parked and walked down to william street. It was eerily quiet. So eerily quiet. I definitely must have been nervous but the determination took over. I remember thinking to myself, nothing matters. They have murdered our friend. That was the emotion that day. Ive never felt like that before. Where theories gone. I was not afraid. I remember distinctly saying that, i am not afraid. Lets go where the fear has gone. They were stood with theirarms fear has gone. They were stood with their arms crossed, staring at us. The members lined up around the building. Staring at us. Someone known senior dissidents. It was an incredibly brave gesture, openly confronting them may have put their lives at risk. She is dead nothing matters. Take me to court. Take me to jail. I dont care, i absolutely dont care. The rest of us are the same. We are strong women and we are not afraid. We are not afraid. Did that intimidate you . Not afraid. We are not afraid. Did that intimidate you . L not afraid. We are not afraid. Did that intimidate you . I wasnt thinking about being afraid or intimidated. We can get a bigger message out, in more Important Message out, in more Important Message out, in more Important Message out, if we put out hand prints. That is what they have. Blood on their hands. The response was coldly dismissive. What effect did the murder of lyra mckee have on the support base of the group . L think it was minimal. Isnt that remarkable, given the universal horror . It is a republican community, saoradh were not involved in killing lyra mckee. The ira took responsibility and apologised for killing lyra mckee. An apology doesnt bring someone back from the dead. And it does not remove the trauma. Experienced by a partner, experienced by anyone at the scene. There were people absolutely haunted by what happened to lyra and the cavalier attitude afterwards. By what happened to lyra and the cavalier attitude afterwardsl by what happened to lyra and the cavalier attitude afterwards. I was getting stopped in the street and getting stopped in the street and getting Text Messages congratulating me, saying well done. I think it was brilliant. It is definitely not in oui brilliant. It is definitely not in our name. Not in my name. For lyras nearest and dearest. The world watched as the father gave tribute to lyra at her funeral in belfast cathedral. The congregation included a roll call of political leaders from westminster, belfast and dublin. Why in gods name does it ta ke dublin. Why in gods name does it take the death of a 29 year old woman with her whole life in front of her. Applause it was an unforgettable moment. The political leaders seemed embarrassed and did not know what to do or where to turn. It was as though father martins words had shamed them. For a fleeting moment, it seemed there was hope of a political breakthrough brat, alas, it was not to be. A political breakthrough, but alas. They acknowledged the bravery and the courage and creativity of those women in derry, friends of lyra, where they can stand together and break some of this control. Lyras murder drew the worlds attention to the new wave of violence festering in Northern Irelands political vacuum. A new ira bomber packs a car outside the courthouse in derry. He makes his escape. People pass by unaware. Miraculously, no one is killed or injured. It was the opening of the new iras intensified campaign. A campaign that also continued to target police officers. The troubles are not over for my family. I have a member of my family who is a catholic and a serving police officer. It is strange. After the good friday agreement, when we are supposed to be in a peaceful time, our house, my family home, has been shot at. Our family car has been shot at. Our family car has been burned out. There has been sympathy cards sent to my parents. As in, with sympathy during times of death. Piece is a very questionable thing at the moment. We know we have had lyras murder in the last six months but it seems to happen every few days that there is a shooting or a beating. That is not peace. It absolutely is not peace. Last year, i watched these supporters of saoradh commemorate the easter rising of 1916. They recognise the new iras determination to resist british rule. The new ira is believed to have a hardcore of around 100 gunmen, bombers and engineers, paid between 50 and £100 per week, backed up by up to 400 active supporters. Brexit offers the opportunity to end british occupation. Initially they were on the back foot after lyras tragic killing but they gained confidence, borne out by the rising number of attacks in recent months. Their sophistication is increasing. They have access to firearms and explosives and the sort of engineering that means they can make viable and dangerous devices. Priority of the police is to stop the organisation winning new recruits. In particularfrom amongst the unemployed and alienated youth in deprived areas like the bogside and creggan, and similar areas in belfast and elsewhere. There are young people not doing particularly well at school, and who do not have realjob well at school, and who do not have real job prospects well at school, and who do not have realjob prospects and dont have great sense of what the future will hold. These are vulnerable young people to me and the likes of paramilitary organisations prey on these young people and growing these young people. I use the language of grooming in the sense of recognising and grooming and ringing them into the ranks to continue. Make bringing their men. How do they recruit the next generation . Bringing their men. How do they recruit the next generation7m bringing their men. How do they recruit the next generation . It is similarto recruit the next generation . It is similar to the isis model, where they exploit vulnerable young people. They sell them drugs or get them into drugs and alcohol and influence them. They mobilise them onto the streets. Dissident supporters of saoradh maintain that they and the ira are the true heirs of republicanism. Commemorating hunger strikers who have died over the years as martyrs for the cause. Their sacrifice is designed to incentivise the new generation to carry on the fight. Paddy gallagher left sinn fein and joined saoradh, and became the spokesman in derry. He denies saoradh have connections to the new ira. Saoradh salute the men and women of violence. Many people would take it to mean that saoradh salute the successes of this, the new ira. Doesnt that imply saoradh support the new ira . Most people would see it in contemporary terms as that. Most people round here who support saoradh understand what saoradh is about and acknowledge what they do within our communities. They know what media and British Crime forces and pro establishment parties put out in regards to the party is false. There is a fluidity that not every memberof false. There is a fluidity that not every member of saoradh as we see it would be a member of the new ira and not every member of the new ira may bea not every member of the new ira may be a memberof not every member of the new ira may be a member of saoradh but there is an overlap. I grew up around some of these people in the same area. The mural of saoradh has a rocket launcher. I dont you can have a more simple message than that. It is the political wing of the army. Sinn fein in the 1980s. We have seen it all before. They cannot be any different because of the personalities. They are the same. Derrys creggan estate is the stronghold of the new ira. Here it isa stronghold of the new ira. Here it is a battle, as ever, for hearts and minds. The police need intelligence and the dissidents need tacit and active support. When the kneecap drug dealers, dissidents say they are responding to Community Concerns over anti social behaviour. Are responding to Community Concerns over antisocial behaviour. The sentiment in the community they are basedis sentiment in the community they are based is that they do not want them there and they are seen as people who ruin their lives and exploit vulnerable young people. They also have a softer and more subtle way of winning those hearts and minds. We have launched a food bank appeal. In the last couple of years we have seen the last couple of years we have seen the rise in the use of food banks, specifically here in derry. Where do these come from . M banks, specifically here in derry. Where do these come from . It is local people that donate these items. Isnt this the soft and friendly face of saoradh . You say that, as though saoradh has another face. We are a socialist party. We work on behalf and for the working class communities that we come from. Let it people need food banks, there is one there down in spring town where you can get vouchers from your local representatives for it. You do not need to go to saoradh. We need more money for the welfare system and the health care system. We definitely need serious crisis Interventions Services in terms of Mental Health and drug addiction support. Saoradh do not provide those. Kathleen has firsthand experience as to where she believes the state is failing. I am not surprised that saoradh and groups like saoradh exist. I am sad the reason why they exist is poverty. To me, saoradh and those groups are gap fillers. They filled the gap that the state has left. Dissident groups like the new ira also exercise Community Control through fear and intimidation. In the days after lyras death, ominous graffiti appeared on the street where she was shot. It was a clear message to residents. They spoke to police at their peril. There is an undertone of threats and intimidation that you can understand. If you whether person overlooking where the gunmen we re person overlooking where the gunmen were standing and pulled the trigger, and you could identify them, you would be frightened about putting your name to a statement and giving evidence in court. The supreme giving evidence in court. The supreme challenge for police is to break the wall of silence. They say some of the community have provided information but has yet, nobody has been charged with lyras murder. Do you know who killed lyra mckee . L think there is a groundswell of intelligence that would point us towards who did it. Are you confident that the person who killed lyra mckee will be charged and prosecuted . I remain optimistic. Six months on, the real derry girls continue to defy the dissidents. Spraying a tribute to lyra on the free derry wall. It is now six months since lyra was murdered. No one has yet been charged. Does that surprise you . It doesnt surprise me. It does disappoint me. Because lyra was the kind of woman who would have said anything can happen. Dont discount things. Wait and see. So, i will continue to hope that something may happen. Whether it is six months, a year, six years, ten yea rs. Months, a year, six years, ten years. I think it is important to stay focused on hope. Hope drives them on. Hope not only that her killer will finally be brought to justice, but that peace and the spoils of it that lyra referred to will finally prevail in derry and in Northern Ireland. Hello there and good afternoon. It hasnt been a particularly great day weather wise. A lot of ploughed around. The rain is neverfar away. Tomorrow it looks like it will be quite a lot dryer across many parts of the country. Heavy rain towards the south west of england and this morning. That has eased off a little. Further north, we see the heaviest of the rain with rain coming in from off the north sea and a fairly brisk wind. It will be North Eastern parts of england and scotla nd North Eastern parts of england and scotland as we head into the evening. Let me show you the radar pictures over the last few hours. The rain has eased across wales and the south west. Heavy rain moving northwards in across many parts of scotla nd northwards in across many parts of scotland and still across the north east of england. We have patches of rain heading into the south east of england. It pushes towards the midlands during the evening and heading into Northern England too. They peter out. All the while, rain in north east england and scotland. Elsewhere, lighter winds and it turns dry overnight. We do find some mist and fog patches forming. It should be free of frost, a mild six or 7 degrees. Tomorrow, a dry day. As we are between two weather systems, the next comes into the south west by the end of the day. Some rain in the morning for eastern scotland. That will peter out but linger in the Northern Ireland is. Some patches of rain and light showers coming in around irish sea coastal areas. On the whole, dry with a lot of cloud. Misty and murky in the morning. Not a great deal of sunshine, the best of it around the murray firth. Temperatures similar to what we have seen today. More u nsettled to what we have seen today. More unsettled weather coming into the beginning of next week. We have the jet stream. Picking up areas of low pressure. Steering them in from the atlantic. On monday, with rain moving northwards and eastwards, the heaviest rain in england and wales. Not too wet in scotland and Northern Ireland that sunshine hard to find. But at least it is on the mild side and frost free on monday morning. As we look further ahead, we have rain in southern parts of england and wales. On tuesday. Wednesday is a mixed picture. Mild and cloudy rain not far away. Later next week, no signs of something a little different. Getting cooler and by mid week we have patches of frost returning to the north but at the same time it turns cooler as we turn dryer. This is bbc news, im shaun ley. The headlines at three. The health secretary, matt hancock, rejects calls from englands gps to remove home visits from their contracts, calling it a complete non starter. It isnt going to wash, it isnt going to happen. They say they want to negotiate to end home visits, but of course gps need to do home visits. Jeremy corbyn defends his decision to remain neutral in any future brexit referendum if labour wins power. I think being an honest broker and listening to everyone is actually a sign of strength and a sign of maturity. Calm in hong kong today, but the authorities threaten to suspend voting in tomorrows local elections if violence errupts. Railway rebuild. The model display destroyed by vandals now back on show thanks to help from sir rod stewart and thousands of other supporters
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