Fr Edward Daly waves a white handkerchief as an injured man is carried away on Bloody Sunday
THEY gave unstinting service to their communities across Derry throughout the Troubles.
And tonight at a special ceremony two former bishops from either side of the religious divide received the freedom of their city in tribute to their work.
Close friends Catholic bishop Dr Edward Daly and the Church of Ireland’s Bishop James Mehaffey were praised for their cross community leadership during the darkest days of the city’s history.
The two friends were honoured at a special ceremony on Tuesday.
Bishop Daly said it was “a wonderful honour”.
“I am hugely pleased to accept it particularly when it is being shared with my friend and brother, Bishop James,” Dr Daly told invited guests.
He said he had worked in the city since 1962.
“The past 53 years have been for me an incredible experience,” he added.
“I greatly enjoyed the pastoral and cultural involvement of the early years of ministry here. I was shocked and terrified during the years of conflict; those years provided me with great challenges that I found daunting and, sometimes shocking; sometimes terrifying.
“For the last 21 years, I have served in the hospice – those years spent in that remarkable place have formed an edifying and life-enhancing experience and gave me a new sense of the precious and unique nature of every human life.”
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