Northern Ireland

Bishop Daly 'a courageous and merciful peacemaker,' mourners told

The funeral of Bishop Daly takes place at St. Eugene's Cathedral 
The funeral of Bishop Daly takes place at St. Eugene's Cathedral  The funeral of Bishop Daly takes place at St. Eugene's Cathedral 

BISHOP Edward Daly has been laid to rest today by the doors of St Eugene's Cathedral.

The former bishop of Derry was a courageous and merciful peacemaker, mourners at his funeral have been told.

Dr Daly's death on Monday at the age of 82 sparked a huge outpouring of grief for the Church leader who led his Derry diocese through some of the darkest days of the Troubles.

A priest in Derry's Bogside, Dr Daly was lifted to international attention when he was filmed waving a blood-stained handkerchief as he led a group of people carrying dying teenager, Jackie Duddy (17) on Bloody Sunday in 1972.

Over the last few days, thousands of people have filed passed Dr Daly's open coffin before the main altar at St Eugene's where he was laid out in full episcopal vestments donated to him by close friend, Richard Moore and Derry's Long Tower folk group.

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President Michael D Higgins and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness were among the mourners at his funeral at St Eugene's Cathedral.

Current Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown said: "He showed physical courage on Bloody Sunday and his moral courage was evident in his passionate struggle against violence and injustice from all quarters.

"It takes enormous courage to be a peacemaker and he was an apostle of mercy, whether as a curate, as a bishop or as chaplain in the Foyle Hospice.

"For that courageous service of God and of his people, we give thanks today. We have all been blessed by it."

The cathedral was full with a thousand mourners. Up to 25,000 have visited St Eugene's, where the retired bishop has been reposing since his death on Monday.

During the ceremony clergy used the chalice presented to him by the people of his native Belleek in Co Fermanagh in 1957 to mark his ordination as a priest.

A sea of bishops wearing mitres behind a golden cross led the way into the cathedral.

Among them was Catholic Church leader of All-Ireland Eamon Martin - who was ordained by Dr Daly at St Eugene's 29 years ago - and former primate Sean Brady.

Archbishop Martin said: "There was never any doubt that Edward Daly was a great priest, a caring and compassionate pastor, a man of prayer and peace, a courageous and fearless leader - a special person."

A papal message lauding his dedication as a peacemaker was read to mourners.

Dr Daly had long friendships with former Church of Ireland primate Archbishop Robin Eames. And he was jointly granted the freedom of Derry with his Anglican counterpart James Mehaffey last year in recognition of their many years of co-operation in building a more united society.

He was buried in the cathedral grounds.