January 30, 2004

New York

In commemoration of the 32nd anniversary of “Bloody Sunday” in Derry, Ireland, the International League for Human Rights hosted the premier screening of “An Unreliable Witness,” a documentary by Michael McHugh that describes the personal experiences of a journalist who witnessed and later testifies in court about the tragic event. Over 100 people attended the film premier, which took place at the Dag Hammarskjold Auditorium in the United Nations and was followed by a discussion with an expert panel moderated by Scott Horton, League President.

“This is somber commemoration of that terrible cold day in January 1972 when 13 Derry citizens were killed by the British Army, and another was to die of his wounds later” British- born journalist David Tereschuck—the subject of the film— said in a statement following the screening. “For the families of Derry’s dead, it is unconscionable that a 32 year delay has elapsed without the truth being told, and—something I believe is necessary—any restitution being made.”

Now working as a journalist for the United Nations, David was a young reporter at the time of the massacre. The film follows his emotional return to Derry 30 years later, where he must testify in a newly re-opened investigation, launched by Prime Minister Tony Blair in 1998. Relying on interviews with families of the victims of Bloody Sunday, the film contains archival footage that chronicles the time in Derry in the late 60’s and 70’s as David witnessed the civil rights campaign go through various stages until the day of the march on January 30th 1972.

“We set out to produce a film that hopefully can teach, illuminate and inspire in many ways” Director Michael McHugh said. “This film provides a general overview of Bloody Sunday, and can enlighten an American audience about a horrible human rights violation.”

Also present at the event was Don Mullen, an Irish journalist interviewed in the film, and whose book, Bloody Sunday, was recently made into a film called Eyewitness Bloody Sunday. Don Mullen is also a recipient of the League’s 2002 Human Rights Defenders’ Day award.

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