Wilford's 'terrible legacy' remembered in Derry
'Passing of Derek Wilford will not be mourned by the families of the innocent men and boys whose lives were taken by armed British paratroopers on Bloody Sunday'
The death of Derek Wilford will "not be mourned by the families of the innocent men and boys whose lives were taken by armed British paratroopers on Bloody Sunday".
According to an obituary published in the Times newspaper, Wilford - who commanded the British Parachute Regiment during Bloody Sunday in Derry (January 30, 1972) - died on Friday, aged 90, having suffered from Parkinson's disease.
In a statement this morning, Tony Doherty, Chair of the Bloody Sunday Trust, whose father was murdered on Bloody Sunday, said that ‘the passing of Derek Wilford, while felt by his family, will not be mourned by the families of the innocent men and boys whose lives were taken by armed British paratroopers on Bloody Sunday.'
Thirteen people died on Bloody Sunday: John 'Jackie' Duddy (17), Michael Kelly (17), Hugh Gilmour (17), William Nash (19), John Young (17), Michael McDaid (20), Kevin McElhinney (17), James 'Jim' Wray (22), William McKinney (26), Gerry McKinney (35), Gerard 'Gerry' Donaghey (17), Patrick Doherty (31) and Bernard 'Barney' McGuigan (41). John Johnston (59) died on June 16, 1972, from the injuries he received. Scores more were injured.
Tony Doherty added: "Colonel Wilford lived in a constant state of denial, never once accepting any measure of responsibility for his actions on that fateful day.
"History, though, will ensure that his actions led directly to the deaths of many innocent people which, in turn, led to years of conflict and hardship for our communities. He left a terrible legacy and will rightly be remembered for that."