Bloody Sunday dead remembered at Derry wreath-laying ceremony

The Bloody Sunday dead were remembered at a sombre inter-denominational prayer service in Derry this morning.

A minute’s silence was observed and floral tributes in memory of those killed in the 1972 massacre were laid at the Bloody Sunday monument in Rossville Street.

Prayers were led by Bishop of Derry, Most Rev Dr Donal McKeown – who was attending his first Bloody Sunday memorial service – First Derry Presbyterian Minister Rev David Latimer and Church of England clergyman Rev David Jennings.

Floral tributes were laid at the monument by relatives (pictured above) of those killed and injured.

Mayor of Derry, Cllr Brenda Srevenson, laid a wreath on behalf of Derry City Council.

Also in attendance were Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, MEP Martina Anderson and Nobel Peace Laureate John Hume.

The names of the dead and injured were read out by Alana Burke, one of the seven remaining survivors of those wounded on the day.

In a statement John Kelly, whose brother Michael was one of those killed, said Bloody Sunday was a “crime” against the city of Derry.

Welcoming the recommencement of the murder probe into the killings, Mr Kelly called on the PSNI to investigate two “flaws” in the Saville report – the “shameful”  and “false” claims that one of the victims, Gerard Donaghy, had “probably” been carrying nail bombs and the “chain of command” responsible for the events on the day.

Mr Kelly also called on witnesses to co-operate with the murder investigation.

He said: “For us, is is our only option. It is the only investigation we have and we want it to succeed.”

The annual Bloody Sunday march will take place in Derry this afternoon, leaving Central Drive in Creggan at 2.30pm and finishing in Guildhall Square in the city centre, the original destination of the 1972 parade.