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An area of west Belfast where a prominent police station once stood has been named after two local women who campaigned against the use of plastic bullets.<\/p>\nAn area of west Belfast where a prominent police station once stood has been named after two local women who campaigned against the use of plastic bullets.<\/p>\n
Located on the site of the former Andersonstown RUC Station, Groves Reilly Corner has been renamed in honor of the late Emma Groves and her friend, 80-year-old Clara Reilly.<\/p>\n
Around 200 people, including West Belfast MP Paul Maskey, Gerry Adams TD and Lord Mayor Deirdre Hargey, gathered today for the official unveiling ceremony.<\/p>\n
Ms Reilly, a married mother of six, is chairwoman of Relatives for Justice.<\/p>\n
She established the first monitoring organization of alleged human rights infringements by the security forces during the earliest days of the Northern Ireland conflict.<\/p>\n
Her friend Ms Groves was blinded by a security force plastic bullet in 1971.<\/p>\n
She and Ms Reilly founded the Association for Legal Justice in the early days of the Troubles.<\/p>\n
Andersonstown was where one victim, John Downes, was killed by the RUC with a plastic bullet in 1984.<\/p>\n
This sparked the women to found the United Campaign Against Plastic Bullets.<\/p>\n
Mark Thompson, director of Relatives for Justice, described the renaming of the site in honor of the women as a \u201cproud day\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a positive day for two wonderful lives who refused to be overshadowed by horrific events that impacted them in the worst imaginable way,\u201d he told those gathered.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen Emma Groves and Clara Reilly stood and spoke up, they commanded attention \u2013 it was because they were right and had right on their side.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey refused to remain silent in the darkest days and harshest of times, they are our champions, the people\u2019s champions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Maskey, Mr Adams and Ms Hargey each paid tribute to the two women in speeches.<\/p>\n
Ms Hargey went on to present Ms Reilly with a certificate in recognition of the moment and her lifetime advocating for the community.<\/p>\n
Speaking ahead of the ceremony Ms Reilly said she was honored.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cI was doing this since 1969 and I would do every minute of it again.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is our history and what the nationalist people suffered, and I was not prepared to take it lying down.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought you had to speak out no matter what.\u201d<\/p>\n