Book of condolence opened in Derry following passing of Bloody Sunday campaigner John Kelly

The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Grace Uí Niallais, has paid tribute to John Kelly, a veteran campaigner with the Bloody Sunday Trust, following his passing and announced that a Book of Condolence will open tomorrow in his memory.

The Mayor said: “It is with great sadness that I learned of the passing of John Kelly, a veteran campaigner with the Bloody Sunday Trust. John was a dedicated and steadfast advocate for truth and justice, whose commitment to remembering those who lost their lives on Bloody Sunday and supporting their families was unwavering.

“His contribution to the campaign for accountability, reconciliation and healing will be remembered with deep respect throughout our community. It is particularly poignant to recall that John was among those recognised by the previous Mayor, Cllr Ruairí McHugh, when he presented the very first Mayor’s Medal to the Bloody Sunday Justice Committee.

“The medal recognised the committee’s dignified campaign for truth and justice for the Bloody Sunday families. That recognition reflected the importance of the work undertaken by John and his fellow campaigners, and the enduring significance of their efforts in ensuring that the voices of the victims and their families were heard and never forgotten.

“John’s passing will be felt deeply, and there will undoubtedly be great sadness across our community. I wish to pay tribute to his dedication, his commitment and the contribution he made over so many years. His loss will be felt by all who had the privilege of knowing and working alongside him.

“A Book of Condolence will be opened in the Guildhall for members of the public who wish to pay their respects and share their thoughts in memory of John. I invite everyone to come along to record their personal tributes from 9am Tuesday morning, November 10th, with an online Book of Condolence also being made available at https://tinyurl.com/3jnj2u7n

The Mayor concluded: “On behalf of the Council, and personally, I extend my heartfelt condolences to John’s family, friends, colleagues in the Bloody Sunday Trust and everyone who knew him. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.”