THE people of Derry will today mourn the dead of Bloody Sunday with a series of events to commemorate the 13 men shot dead by British paratroopers a quarter of a century ago.
Following the official introduction of the Bloody Sunday Trust in the Creggan Estate this morning, where six of the victims lived, the Bloody Sunday monument, erected at the scene of the killings in Rossville Street in the Bogside, will be rededicated.
The monument, unveiled two years after the massacre, bears the names of the 13 men shot dead on January 30th, 1972, as well as the name of a 14th victim who died five months later from his gunshot injuries.
A commemorative garden has recently been added.
After the rededication ceremony, church bells in the diocese of Derry will ring out at 4.30 p.m., the same time the soldiers guns were silenced 25 years ago. Two minutes silence will follow.
The most poignant commemoration will take place in St Mary's Church in the Creggan where the Requiem Mass for the victims was concelebrated.
Almost all the priests officiating at that Mass will tonight concelebrate a memorial Mass in the chapel at which the Bishop of Derry, Dr Seamus Hegarty, will be the chief celebrant.
Personal testimonials from the relatives of the victims have been on display in the chapel since last Monday.
The display is called "The Way Of The Cross - The Road To Bloody Sunday" and tonight the relatives will carry 14 lit candles into the darkened church at the start of the Mass.
Afterwards, there will be a panel discussion on Bloody Sunday in St Mary's Youth Centre nearby.
