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Bloody Sunday campaign continues despite hate mail

In 1972, an Army crackdown on civil rights protesters in the Bogside resulted in the deaths of 13 individuals who were fatally shot.

A sibling of one of the victims of Bloody Sunday has vowed to continue his pursuit of truth and justice despite receiving hate mail.

Mickey McKinney has short grey hair. He is wearing glasses and has a green coat on with a blue shirt and jumper. He is standing in a reception area with a lift in the background.
Mickey McKinney, whose brother William was killed on Bloody Sunday, has received hate mail

Mickey McKinney's brother, William, was among the 13 individuals fatally shot by the Parachute Regiment during a civil rights demonstration in Londonderry in 1972.

McKinney revealed that he received the latest hate letter just before meeting with Irish President Catherine Connolly during her visit to Derry the previous week.

McKinney expressed pity for the individual or individuals responsible for sending the hate mail, stating that they deserve sympathy.

The Belfast Telegraph initially reported that the letter was sent to the Museum of Free Derry.

The letter expressed admiration for the Parachute Regiment and stated that it was unfortunate the B-Specials, a reserve police force that existed from the 1920s to 1970, did not inflict more harm on the demonstrators.

In addition to the 13 fatalities, 15 people were injured when the Army opened fire in Derry's Bogside area on January 30, 1972.

The event, known as Bloody Sunday, is widely regarded as one of the darkest moments of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

McKinney described the emotional impact of receiving such a letter, asking how someone could send hate mail to a family who has already suffered the loss of a loved one and endured false accusations.

A picture taken on 30 January 1972 - Bloody Sunday. A group of men are carrying a lifeless body - they are accompanied by a priest waving a wife handkerchief. There are soldiers at the side of the picture and in the foreground.
Thirteen people were killed and 15 wounded on Bloody Sunday

He characterized the actions of the individual who sent the letter as disturbing.

In October 2025, a former paratrooper known as Soldier F was acquitted of the murder of William McKinney, 26, and James Wray, 22, as well as five counts of attempted murder.

Three men stood looking at the camera. On the left is a bald man wearing a navy-blue shirt and a black jacket. In the middle is a man with glasses wearing a dark jacket. On the right is a man with grey hair wearing a green jumper and a green jacket. The appear to be standing in front of a monument.
The McKinney family said they reported the threat to the police

Around the same time, the McKinney family disclosed that they had received a threatening message.

According to McKinney, the hate mail began arriving after the Soldier F trial.

A collage of black and white photographs of the 13 people killed on Bloody Sunday.

The victims, top row (l to r): Patrick Doherty, Gerald Donaghey, John Duddy, Hugh Gilmour, Michael Kelly, Michael McDaid and Kevin McElhinney. Bottom row : Bernard McGuigan, Gerard McKinney, William McKinney, William Nash, James Wray and John Young
The victims, top row (l to r): Patrick Doherty, Gerald Donaghey, John Duddy, Hugh Gilmour, Michael Kelly, Michael McDaid and Kevin McElhinney. Bottom row : Bernard McGuigan, Gerard McKinney, William McKinney, William Nash, James Wray and John Young

He noted that social media posts gloating about the events of Bloody Sunday became too numerous to count.

McKinney stated that he no longer reads the threatening messages, but he has no intention of abandoning his campaign for justice.

He emphasized that his pursuit of truth and justice is not about personal interests, but rather about seeking accountability.

McKinney believes that the families of the victims share his conviction and will not be deterred by hate mail or other forms of intimidation.

Colum Eastwood, the SDLP MP for Foyle, denounced the individuals responsible for the hate mail.

Eastwood expressed admiration for the families of the victims, stating that they are resilient and will not be swayed by such tactics.

He noted that the hate mail and online abuse directed at the Bloody Sunday families and victims are often enabled by politicians who fail to condemn such behavior.

Ciarán Shiels of Madden & Finucane law firm, which represents the McKinney family, reported that they receive approximately one message per week that reflects a sectarian and hateful mindset.

Shiels stated that the latest hate letter will be submitted to the Police Service of Northern Ireland for investigation and forensic analysis.

The police released a statement saying that they do not comment on individual cases, and no inference should be drawn from their response.

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UAE Defeats Canada to Enhance Super 8s Qualification Chances

The United Arab Emirates boosted their slim chances of advancing to the T20 World Cup Super 8s, securing a narrow five-wicket victory over Canada, thanks in part to Aryansh Sharma’s unbeaten 74.

In a crucial match for the United Arab Emirates, Aryansh Sharma achieved his fifth T20 international half-century, contributing to the team's victory over Canada.

The Men's T20 World Cup, being held in Group D in Delhi, saw an intense competition between the two teams.

Canada's innings resulted in a total of 150-7 after 20 overs, with Harsh Thaker scoring 50 runs off 41 balls, while Junaid Siddique took 5 wickets for 35 runs.

The UAE team responded with a total of 154 runs in 19.4 overs, led by Aryansh Sharma's unbeaten 74 runs off 53 balls and Sohaib Khan's 51 runs off 29 balls, despite Bin Zafar taking 3 wickets for 14 runs.

The United Arab Emirates secured a five-wicket win over Canada, boosting their chances in the tournament.

Aryansh Sharma played a pivotal role in the UAE's win, scoring an unbeaten 74 runs to help his team overcome Canada's total.

With four overs remaining, Canada seemed poised to defend their total, but Sohaib Khan's aggressive batting reignited the UAE's chase, as he scored 17 runs off Dillon Heyliger's bowling.

In the final over, the UAE required eight runs to win, and Aryansh Sharma eased the pressure by hitting a six off Jaskaran Singh's first ball.

Sohaib Khan was dismissed after scoring a rapid 51 runs off 29 balls, including four sixes, leaving the scores level.

Muhammad Arfan then sealed the victory with two balls to spare, hitting a four off Jaskaran Singh, as Aryansh Sharma top-scored with 74 runs off 53 balls.

The UAE now stands third in Group D with two points, but they face an uphill task in their upcoming matches against full members South Africa and Afghanistan to advance to the next phase.

Although the UAE has never beaten a full member in any World Cup format, their performance in this match has given them some confidence.

Earlier in the match, Junaid Siddique achieved the best bowling figures by a UAE player in a T20 World Cup, taking 5 wickets for 35 runs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.

Harsh Thaker's 41-ball half-century, which included three sixes and two fours, provided a solid foundation for Canada's total.

Thaker and Navneet Dhaliwal shared a 58-run partnership to help Canada recover from a difficult start, before Dhaliwal was run out for 34 runs.

After Thaker fell victim to Junaid Siddique's slower ball, Canada struggled to find boundaries against the UAE's tight bowling.

Shreyas Movva made a useful contribution of 21 runs off 21 balls, but Junaid Siddique took two wickets in the final over to claim his maiden five-wicket haul in T20 internationals.

In a separate match, Zimbabwe's Brilliant Muzarabani played a key role in his team's stunning win over Australia.

For more updates, notifications, and social media coverage, visit the BBC Sport website.

In another development, Paul Stirling has been ruled out of the remainder of the T20 World Cup due to injury.

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Guardiola Advocates for Cultural Embrace to Foster a Better Society

Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has stated that accepting diverse cultures will lead to a more harmonious society, in reaction to comments made by Sir Jim Ratcliffe regarding immigration.

As a player, Pep Guardiola earned 47 international caps for Spain, showcasing his skills on the global stage.

Manchester City's manager, Pep Guardiola, believes that embracing diverse cultures is essential for creating a more harmonious society.

Guardiola was questioned about his thoughts on comments made by Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who stated that the UK had been "colonised by immigrants", sparking a debate.

Following criticism, Ratcliffe apologised for any offence caused, while still advocating for open discussion on the issue.

Ahead of Manchester City's FA Cup fourth-round match against Salford, Guardiola shared his perspective, saying that people seek better lives and opportunities, which can be found in their birthplace or elsewhere.

According to Guardiola, one's birthplace is not a determining factor in their potential or aspirations.

Many individuals are forced to leave their homelands due to problems in their native countries, rather than a desire to abandon their roots.

Guardiola emphasized that by genuinely embracing other cultures, society as a whole can improve, a notion he has no doubts about.

An examination of the facts behind Jim Ratcliffe's statements on immigration and benefits is also underway.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a billionaire, has made headlines, but who is he and how did he accumulate his wealth?

Born in Santpedor, Catalonia, Spain, Guardiola has had a diverse career, playing in Spain, Italy, Qatar, and Mexico, before transitioning to management.

As a manager, the 55-year-old has had stints in Spain, Germany, and England, taking the helm at Manchester City in 2016.

Guardiola views the issue of immigration as a global problem, stating that it is a concern that affects many countries.

He believes that immigrants are often unfairly blamed for problems in their adopted countries, highlighting the fact that one's birthplace is often a matter of circumstance.

Guardiola reiterated that people from all backgrounds strive for a better life, seeking opportunities that may be available in their birth country or elsewhere.

He stressed that factors such as skin colour or birthplace should not be barriers to achieving one's goals.

For the latest news, analysis, and fan perspectives on Manchester City, please refer to our dedicated section.

Do you have any questions about Manchester City that you would like answered?

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GB’s Bankes knocked out in snowboard cross quarterfinals

Charlotte Bankes of Great Britain was knocked out in the quarter-final stage of the women’s snowboard cross event at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Charlotte Bankes of Great Britain has been knocked out of the women's snowboard cross event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, failing to advance beyond the quarter-final stage.

For more Winter Olympics coverage, videos are available to stream.

Access to Winter Olympics video content is restricted to users in the United Kingdom.

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