The President held a private meeting with approximately 50 relatives and survivors of those murdered and wounded during Bloody Sunday in 1972.
Tony Doherty, of the Bloody Sunday Trust, said:
“Catherine Connolly is a very popular woman, not just for those who voted for, but for those who couldn’t vote. And what we actually did say is that hopefully, in the not too distant future, that some of us will actually canvas for the future president of Ireland on our own streets. So we were very glad to have her with us. The visit went swimmingly well. We’re very pleased to see her and she was very pleased to see us.
“Bloody Sunday has made its own imprint on the history of the city and in response, ourselves, as families, have made our own imprint in terms of addressing the injustice of what has happened on that day and for decades subsequently. So we’re very happy that she’s referenced us and the way that she has it’s, I suppose, a sign of maturity as well that the President’s office isn’t reticent or afraid to address sort of core issues.”
Mickey McKinney, brother of Willie McKinney, said:
“The Families all warmly welcomed the President and thanked her for her solidarity and for accepting our invitation. She took the time to speak to every one of us individually, and we look forward to seeing her again soon.”
Ciarán Shiels, of Madden & Finucane, said:
“It was an honour and a privilege to assist in welcoming our President to the Museum of Free Derry this afternoon along with a large number of the Bloody Sunday Families and Wounded.
“I told President Connolly that she was most welcome and it was hugely important that she came to the Bogside and showed her solidarity and support for the Families after the Soldier F trial, the Public Prosecution Service’s decision to allow the remaining 1 Para shooters to escape justice for the perjury they committed on oath to the Saville Tribunal, and also following the DUP leader’s repeated and grossly insensitive statements directed at the Bloody Sunday victims for pursing justice.
“President Connolly said that she was delighted and humbled to meet the Families and wished them well in their forthcoming legal challenge to the PPS decision not to prosecute British Army perjurers. President Connolly also said that she would be back for a longer visit to the locations where the victims were murdered.”