Bloody Sunday - January 30th 1972 - What happened and why?

The killing of 14 individuals by British paratroopers in Northern Ireland has been the cause of massive upset throughout the past thirty years. Much of this upset was sparked by the way in which the British government officially dealt with the inquiries into the events of the 30th January 1972. One of the many debates surrounding the issue, hereafter referred to as "Bloody Sunday" a name recognised by both the Irish Republicans and the British government, is on the topic of weaponry. I wish to examine sources and accounts from both the Irish Republican side, and the official British line in order to improve understanding of why the killing was necessary if indeed it was, and gain better knowledge as to how the event was perceived by the two opposing sides in the Northern Ireland...