"Parents are the forgotten victims of Troubles" - Dr Edward Daly

The retired Bishop of Derry Dr Edward Daly has claimed that not enough attention was paid to the grief of parents during the Northern Ireland troubles.

Speaking at the funeral of Lawerence McElhinney, the last surviving parent of the Bloody Sunday victims at Saint Patrick's Church in Pennyburn Bishop Daly said, “I often feel that not enough attention is paid to the parents of the victims of our conflict here.”  

“The grief of a parent who loses a son or daughter is a particular type of grief.  It is not in the natural scheme of things that a son or a daughter should die before a parent.  It is certainly not in the natural scheme of things that a parent should experience the violent death or murder of their son or daughter.”

Dr Daly also said that some of his strongest memories of the conflict were breaking terrible news to unsuspecting parents and the grief that they subsequently experienced.  

He added,  “Some of my most heart-breaking memories are recalling the grief of parents at funerals. When the history of our conflict is written I hope that all parents who have suffered loss during the troubles will be given their rightful place. Theirs is and was a unique sadness, a special degree of sadness and loss the intensity of which can often be forgotten by the rest of us.”

Eighty -six year old Lawerence McElhinney was the father of 17 year Kevin McElhinney who was murdered by British forces on the Bogside on Bloody Sunday, January 30 1972.  

Last year after an extensive inquiry that led to the publication of the Saville Report, British Prime Minister David Cameron apologised for the actions of British soldiers in Derry. 

Lawerence McElhinney was the last surviving parent of the 13 people who were killed on Bloody Sunday.

 

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