The family of the first victim killed on Bloody Sunday have described Hugh McMonagle, one of the men who helped carry his body from Derry’s Bogside, as an "unsung hero".
Mr McMonagle (75), who passed away at his home in Derry yesterday, was immortalised when he was photographed helping to carry the body of Jackie Duddy (17) behind former bishop of Derry, Edward Daly waving a blood-stained handkerchief. The photograph and footage has become one of the most enduring images of conflict in the world.
Jackie Duddy (17) was shot dead as he ran beside the late Bishop Daly. The other men who helped the dying youth were Liam Bradley, Charlie Glenn and Willie McCrystal.
In his evidence to the Saville Inquiry in 2001, Mr McMonagle recalled leaving the cover of a low wall to help the then Fr Daly and others around the teenager’s body.
He said: “I thought that, if I was going to be shot, it would be better if I was shot next to a priest so that he could give me the last rites.”
He said that as they carried the youth, British soldiers were firing shots over their heads. As they eventually left the Bogside, he asked a soldier to get an ambulance but the soldier said he knew nothing of any shooting.
“I just went for him. I leaned over the barbed wire between us and dragged him towards me. I told him I would ‘tear his f***ing head off’. The other soldiers started hitting me with the muzzles of their rifles,” he recalled.
Jackie Duddy’s sister, Kay last night said the family would never forget what Mr McMonagle had done.
“We are very grateful for what he did for Jackie on that particular day. As far as we are concerned, he was one of the unsung heroes of Bloody Sunday. He was a very modest unassuming human being. The Duddys will never forget what he did for us.”
Ms Duddy offered her condolences to Mr McMonagle’s wife, Bridie and family.
SDLP leader, Colum Eastwood said Mr McMonagle was immortalised in the picture which came to symbolise Bloody Sunday.
“He has played a very important part in the collective psyche of all Derry people,” Mr Eastwood Said.
