Tributes to Bloody Sunday hero

Hundreds gathered in Derry at the weekend to pay tribute to Bloody Sunday hero Patrick Walsh.

His funeral took place in Creggan on Saturday morning.

His act of heroism in the Bloody Sundsay massacre of 1972 was shown across the world after it was captured by a photographer.

The pictures revealed Mr Walsh, who had been taking cover from British soldiers at Derry’s Rossville Flats, crawl towards Patrick Doherty as he lay dying.

Mr Walsh came under fire himself with one bullet passing through the collar of his coat.

Paddy Doherty’s son Tony said his family would always be indebted to Mr Walsh for his bravery.

Tributes were also paid by Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, former SDLP leader John Hume and civil rights activist Ivan Cooper.

Recalling his actions at the Saville tribunal, the Derryman said: “I went to the body to do something for him. I didn’t care what was going on around me. I have no idea where I was but I remember creeping towards the body.”

His bravery is to be honoured in a mural just metres from where he tried to save Mr Doherty.

There were also calls last week for the Derry man’s brave act to be honoured posthumously by the Dublin government.

At the requiem Mass, Fr Dermott McGirr described Mr Walsh as “a warm-hearted man of tremendous courage”.

“Paddy was one of the true heroes of our city,” said Fr McGirr.

“He helped his friends and neighbours whenever they had difficulties and, of course, he stepped up, risking his own life in the process, to help a fellow Derry man on that terrible Sunday in 1972.

“Despite his obvious courage and heroism, Paddy was an unassuming man who lived for his family.”

Urgent Appeal