[LIST][]Willy and Danny - Gary g[/LIST][LIST][]Willy and Danny - Gary g[/LIST][LIST][]—[/LIST][LIST][]LINK[/LIST]
I vowed to check out the full background of this song after The Irish Brigade did a tremendous version of it after the game the other night. Some information below:
http://www.triskelle.eu/lyrics/willieanddanny.php?index=080.010.080.040
Willie and Danny
The song Willie and Danny refers to the killing of Daniel Doherty and William Fleming, in the grounds of the Gransha Hospital in Derry on 6 December 1984
On that fatal day Willie and Danny, both active members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (pIRA), entered the grounds of Gransha Hospital by motorcycle when they were rammed by a car. Most likely Willie, the driver, was thrown off at the moment of impact whereupon the motorcycle, with Danny on the back seat, continued out of control for a few metres. In the few split seconds between the collision and the moment on which the motorcycle came to a standstill fire was opened by at least five servicemen, among which three soldiers of the Special Air Service (SAS). This first burst ended the lives of Daniel Doherty, aged 23, and William Fleming, 19 years old. In total 59 rounds were fired. The coroner removed bullets from all over their bodies, including the heads, and declared that at least six rounds were fired when the two men laid on the ground. He also concluded that that Danny was shot several times in his back. On the Danny’s body a firearm was found, while Willie was unarmed.
According to the statements made by the involved servicemen after consulting a senior officer, Danny Doherty and William Fleming were involved in an attempt to murder an off-duty member of the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR). The servicemen declared that Danny had pointed his gun to them, but in this seems rather impossible due to the high element of surprise and the rapid escalation of the situation. Most likely the soldiers performed in accordance with the shoot-to-kill guidelines.
At the initial inquiry in 1986 the jury declared that the two deceased might have been saved if the police was informed at an earlier stage or if the soldiers had tried to make an arrest. Thereupon nothing happened. No attempts were made to prosecute the soldiers and the United Kingdom refused to provide the widowed Julie Doherty with full and detailed reasons for not doing so.
Julie’s application for a judicial review was dismissed in November 2004, mainly because the court deemed the statements made by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in response to judgements passed by the European Court of Human Rights in previous comparable trials against the United Kingdom, such as for example the Pearse Jordan case, provided the required full and detailed reasons.
By referring to a general statement made by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) the Belfast High Court virtually nullifies the spirit of the judgement made by the European Court.
Title:
Willie and Danny
Lyrics by:
Pangur Bn
Recorded by:
ire g, The Irish Brigade and Gary g
Category:
Republican Song and The Troubles
Try to sing some songs of glory,
Sing some songs of peace,
But in the end it’s the same old story,
They’re both so hard to reach.
People tell me they’re sick and tired,
Of seeing this place run down,
Well I say: Take your blindfold off, you hypocrite,
And help us to get off the ground.
Please say it isn’t so,
Why Willie and Danny had to go,
The reason’s very clear,
They’re laying down their lives for us year after year.
Seventy shots between their bodies,
Not one of those bullets missed,
For every trigger pulled that morning,
A volunteer will enlist.
For five long hours they left them lying there,
The priest was turned away,
So another step lower for those SAS bastards,
We’ll never forget the day.
Please say it isn’t so,
Why Willie and Danny had to go,
The reason’s very clear,
They’re laying down their lives for us year after year.
The funerals were to prove their worthiness,
Thousands thronged the streets,
While those Borstel Boys hovered helplessly overhead,
The 'Ra came out to salute.
They emptied their magazines over each coffin,
Defiantly the crowd were sent,
So another day dawns and the guns will be out again,
Cause Willie and Danny had friends.
Please say it isn’t so,
Why Willie and Danny had to go,
The reason’s very clear,
They’re laying down their lives for us year after year.