McClean 's objection derives from his affinity with the people of Derry , and the role of the British Army in The Troubles ; he grew up on the Creggan estate , where six of the people killed on Bloody Sunday in 1972 also came from . He has said he would wear the poppy if it was restricted to honouring only soldiers who died in the World Wars , many of whom were Irish , and he has insisted his position is one of peace , and not any kind of wider political , religious or anti-British point . The Legion itself does not believe in compelling people to wear the poppy , seeing such a stance as going against everything the poppy symbolises
Bloody Sunday
Bloody Sunday (1972)
James McClean