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A Edward Daly le Chiavi della Città di Derry

Bloody Sunday priest given freedom of city

James Mehaffey, Brenda Stevenson, Edward Daly | © Utv

A retired Catholic bishop who waved a blood-stained white handkerchief during Bloody Sunday has been honoured with the freedom of Londonderry.

Dr Edward Daly provided one of the grim images of the Troubles as he brandished the rag while attempting to help a fatally injured civil rights protestor in January 1972.

British paratroopers had opened fire and killed 13 demonstrators. Fourteen were injured and another was to die later.

Dr Daly has served in the city since 1962, he was granted the freedom of the city at a ceremony on Tuesday night.

Also receiving the honour was Dr James Mehaffey from the Church of Ireland.

Both men were praised for their cross community leadership in the city.

Dr Daly said: “I was shocked and terrified during the years of conflict, those years provided me with great challenges that I found daunting and sometimes shocking, sometimes terrifying.”

At the time of Bloody Sunday Dr Daly was a curate aged 39 at St Eugene’s Cathedral in Derry.

He joined the march as it passed the cathedral en route to the city centre.

He was near John “Jackie” Duddy, 17, when he was shot by soldiers and anointed him and gave him the Last Rites.

Fr Daly and other marchers attempted to bring him to safety.

Edward Daly durante il Bloody Sunday

He told Derry City councillors during his acceptance speech in the city’s Guildhall that his experience over five decades had taught him that people can do more together than apart.

He added: “Difference should be seen as enriching rather than threatening. There is a rich tapestry of cultures here and each of them has made an important contribution to who we are and what we are and each of these should be cherished by us all.”

Dr Mehaffey, 82, was elected bishop in 1980. He worked closely with Dr Daly over many years to promote reconciliation, including at Londonderry’s Inner City Trust which involved hundreds of disadvantaged young people in construction.

He said: “During my time as bishop I have had a great friend in Bishop Daly.

“The outside world may not like either of us and certainly might not like the two of us together but we have gotten on remarkably well and it shows you that people you might think are far away in mentality and outlook could be your closest friend and Bishop Daly and I are very close friends.”

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René Querin

Di professione grafico e web designer, sono appassionato di trekking e innamorato dell'Irlanda e della sua storia. Insieme ad Andrea Varacalli ho creato e gestisco Les Enfants Terribles.

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