Bloody Sunday family centre opens
A new Bloody Sunday Family Support Centre was officially opened in Derry on Thursday by Lawrence McElhinney, now the last surviving parent of those killed on January 30, 1972.
The Bloody Sunday Family Support Centre, situated in Unit B5 of Creggan’s Rath Mor Centre, has been set up to help engage and support the relatives of the dead and wounded as they await the release of Lord Saville’s report into the killings. The new campaign headquarters will also provide a central meeting point between the families and wounded and members of the media.
On hand to help at the Family Support Centre will be newly-appointed Family Liaison Officer Mickey McKinney, whose eldest brother William was killed on Bloody Sunday aged just 27-years-old. Mickey has been actively involved in the Bloody Sunday Justice Campaign since its inception in 1992.
Mr McKinney said: “Every single person involved in the campaign for truth has worked hard to get where we are today, and now the end is in sight. Saville’s report has been a long time coming and we can only hope that it was worth waiting for and that we see it in its entirety.
“But these next few months will be very challenging and traumatic for many of us as Saville’s report reawakens the pain and hurt of Bloody Sunday. Hopefully his report will remind the world of the murderous actions of the British Army and the subsequent cover-up of the State. Bloody Sunday, above all, is about the people, the broken hearts and the years of grief and struggle.”
Mr McKinney is pleased that those most affected will now have a centre of operations to work from during this crucial final campaign.
“The relatives of the dead and wounded of Bloody Sunday are at the very heart of this new office. We’re here for them to provide a place they can come to if they have any concerns and of course, to gather for regular campaign meetings,” he added.
Also working for the Family Support Centre is Press Officer Julieann Campbell, whose uncle Jackie Duddy was the first fatality of the day. Julieann has worked as a reporter for the Derry Journal for five years and both she and Mickey are dedicated to supporting and facilitating the families over what’s sure to be a difficult few months.
Julieann Campbell said: “My role will be to help publicise this final campaign and get as much media coverage as we possibly can, both here at home and in the British press.”
“We wish to thank the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Creggan Enterprises for their support in helping establish this Family Support Centre,” Miss Campbell added.
