The daughter of a man targeted in a republican hoax bomb attack in Derry has highlighted her father’s role on Bloody Sunday and his reputation as a former leading nationalist political figure.
Kathleen Bradley’s parents were one of three elderly families of serving police officers targeted in hoax bomb attacks in Derry on Wednesday and Thursday. Dissident republicans are believed to be behind the incidents at Lone Moor Road in the city’s Brandywell area, in Shantallow and in Creggan.
It was not the first time the Bradley home was targeted. In 2011, a family car was destroyed in a petrol bomb attack. Three years earlier shots were fired through the front door of their Lone Moor Road home.
In a post on social media, Ms Bradley reproduced an iconic photograph from Bloody Sunday, showing her father, Liam as he helped carry the body of teenage victim, Jackie Duddy from the Bogside.
Mr Bradley, who is now in his 70s, carried the victim’s body as former bishop of Derry, Edward Daly waved a blood-stained handkerchief in a photograph which was sent around the world in the days after the 1972 massacre.
The Derry man later went on to serve as an Irish Independence Party deputy mayor of Derry and was active in a campaign to have Fianna Fáil establish north of the border, establishing an unofficial Fianna Fáil cumann in Derry. He also became active in charity work, helping to raise thousands of pounds for the Trocaire third world charity.
Mrs Bradley said: “Just to put it into context. The man in the hat [in the Bloody Sunday photograph]…that’s who’s house the bomb was left at this morning (Thursday). The same man that fought for years to improve the quality of lives of the people of this city. And the same man that organised charity dances every fortnight to raise money for Trocaire.
“That’s the kind of targets these people are going after.”
Her statement was greeted with support from Sinn Féin MP, Elisha McCallion who said the hoax bomb attack was “disgraceful.”
SDLP deputy mayor of Derry, John Boyle paid tribute to the Bradley family.
He said: “Disgraceful and sickening. Your parents and your family are brave and selfless people, an example to us all.”
