A grand-daughter of one of the Bloody Sunday victims will be part of a choir singing for Prince Charles today.
Gerard McKinney (35) was among the 13 men shot dead by British paratroopers in Derry’s Bogside in 1972.
Later today his grand-daughter Bethany McLoughlin (17) will be part of a choir in Co Sligo which will entertain the royal visitor, who is commander-in-chief of the Parachute regiment.
Her mother Mairead was just 18 months old when her father was killed.
She now lives in Sligo with her husband Gerard McLoughlin and family.
Bethany’s father said his daughter was selected to be part of a choir representing three schools which will sing at a service at Drumcliffe parish church.
The decision by Sinn Fein to meet Prince Charles and to take part in events marking his visit to Ireland has been criticised by some Bloody Sunday relatives.
However, Bethany revealed that her Derry grandmother Ita has given her blessing to her decision to take part in the choir.
“We phoned her after I was selected and she told me to sing my heart out,” the Sligo teenager said.
Since news of Bethany’s involvement emerged, she has been the victim of some negative online comments.
“But all my friends are saying just to ignore that and I am ignoring it,” she said.
Bethany’s mother added that that while she grieved for her father as she grew older, it was time to forgive and to move on.
“We have to learn to live with the past but leave it there and look to the future,” she said.
