Northern Ireland

Tributes to award-winning BBC cameraman Cyril Cave who captured iconic Bloody Sunday footage

Cyril Cave filmed the footage of Fr Edward Daly on Bloody Sunday. Picture by BBC
Cyril Cave filmed the footage of Fr Edward Daly on Bloody Sunday. Picture by BBC Cyril Cave filmed the footage of Fr Edward Daly on Bloody Sunday. Picture by BBC

A cameraman who captured the iconic Bloody Sunday footage of a priest waving a blood-stained handkerchief on the streets of Derry has died aged 91.

Cyril Cave was last night remembered as one of the "greatest television news cameramen of his generation".

The award-winning BBC cameraman filmed one of the enduring images of the Troubles when Fr Edward Daly, who later became Bishop of Derry, walked ahead of the body of dying Jackie Duddy in January 1972.

Originally from in Holywood, Co Down, he began his career as a photographer with the Lurgan Mail and went on to become a highly respected cameraman, winning multiple Royal Television Society awards.

Robin Walsh, editor for BBC News in Northern Ireland in the 1970s, said Mr Cave was courageous in his work.

"Cyril Cave was a trailblazer, taking no pleasure in seeing his community tear itself apart, but playing a pivotable role in revealing the horror of it all to the public," he said.

"He was an inspiration to many who have followed."

Former BBC correspondent Martin Bell said it was "an honour to have worked with him".

"It has been borne in on me over a long career in TV news that the important people tend to be behind the camera and the self important people in front of it," he said.

"Cyril Cave was truly a hero of the Troubles."

Mr Cave's funeral is due to take place on Friday at Roselawn Crematorium at 5pm.

He is survived by his wife Freda, children Judith, Claire, Suzanne and Mark and wider family circle.