Early morning Derry candlelight vigil marks first of the 1916 Easter Rising executions

A candlelight vigil was held in Derry in the early hours of this morning to mark the first executions of the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising.

Around 100 people attended the ceremony staged at 3.45am at the newly-unveiled republican monument on Racecourse Road in the Shantallow area of the city.

It was held at the time and date of first three to be executed - Patrick Pearse, Thomas MacDonagh and Thomas Clarke.

A similar event will be held at the same time on 12 May next mark the deaths James Connolly and Sean MacDiarmada, the last to be executed.

Those executed in between included Joseph Plunkett, William Pearse, Edward Daly, Michael O'Hanrahan, John MacBride, Éamonn Ceannt, Michael Mallin, Seán Heuston and Con Colbert

Sir Roger Casement was tried in London for high treason and hanged at Pentonville Prison on 3 August, 1916.

Among those in attendance at this morning’s brief ceremony were Sinn Fein MLA Raymond McCartney and his party colleagues on Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillors Sandra, Duffy, Tony Hassan and Colly Kelly.