A BRAILLE translation of the You Are Now Entering Free Derry message has been unveiled on the famous Free Derry Wall.
It was unveiled yesterday by Children in Crossfire charity founder Richard Moore who was blinded by a rubber bullet aged 10 in 1972. The unveiling ceremony is part of this week’s programme of events commemorating the 51st anniversary of Bloody Sunday.
Mr Moore, whose uncle Gerard McKinney (35) was one of those shot dead on Bloody Sunday, said the inclusion of a Braille translation helped make the iconic monument a “wall for all”. He said the Bloody Sunday families have been an inspiration to him over the last 51 years.
“I was able to see when Bloody Sunday happened and I remember going to the wake over in the Waterside of my uncle Gerard and seeing how traumatised my late aunt Ida was. I just want to acknowledge my late aunt Ida and the family as well.
“For me as a blind person – leaving aside the fact that I lost my sight through the conflict – I am delighted that such an iconic image of Free Derry Wall is being used in this way. I think all credit to the Bloody Sunday Trust to make it a wall for all and to reach out beyond the Bogside and the city of Derry and so on. There are many, many people out there with disabilities who suffer and struggle every day of their lives and they will get inspiration from this," he said.
The inclusion of a Braille version of the slogan helped raise awareness of disability issues and to ensure discussion about such issues continued.
“It gives me great pleasure to unveil the Braille plaque and I can confirm that it does say in Braille, ‘You are Now Entering Free Derry’” Mr Moore said.
John Kelly, whose brother, Michael (17) was killed on Bloody Sunday, said Free Derry Corner was an iconic monument throughout the world. He said the unveiling of the Braille plaque was a historic occasion.
