Ireland's OWN:  
Remembers Annette McGavigan

11 September 2002 Annette McGavigan —by Jack Harper, The Netherlands The story about the murder of 14-year-old Derry schoolgirl Annette McGavigan in 1971 touched me and it made me sad and angry at the same time. Even after so many years the authorities are not prepared to face the truth.  How many more cases of injustice are there in the archives of the British occupying forces?  How many more families are there who are not told the truth about how their loved ones died?  How long will the secret state, which always protects its own, be tolerated?  The answers to these questions must come sooner or later. But there is one thing about which there can be no doubt. As long as the North remains occupied, the secrets of the state will remain secrets. The truth about the murderous activities of the British army and the RUC is too painful for the occupiers to be brought out into the open. Even with all of this being obvious there are still people who say that there is a peace process at present. They even call themselves Republicans. They have no right to this title. As long as Ireland remains divided, as long as the North remains occupied the truth about the crimes committed by the British army and the RUC will never be made public.  Thankfully there are still people who will not accept the current situation. Who are prepared to stand by the Republican principles, which guided the Republican movement for so long. They will not rest until Ireland is united and free from occupation. When I switch on the TV today or the radio for that matter, I hear continuous coverage of remembrance services for those who died in the September 11 attacks. As if there are no other people suffering in this world. The leaders who stand and mourn are at the same time planning another terrible war for oil and power. And in that war too, young girls like Annette McGavigan will be the victims. So the September 11 services mean nothing to me. But I bow my head for a moment for Annette McGavigan. One day she will receive justice. See Also: Death of a Derry Schoolgirl Page updated 6 Sep 2006 Ireland's OWN logo, Women Freedom Fighter's Background & McGavigan Mural Photograph by Míchealín Daugherty Copyright © 2006 Ireland's OWN All Rights Reserved.