February 2025: Looking back on the Derry defining stories of the year

A Derry man left unable to speak following a stroke highlighted the “shocking lack of speech and language therapy (SLT) locally for stroke survivors”, in February.

The Stroke Association also described speech and language therapy assessment and support for stroke patients in the North as “steadily declining over the past few years”.

The man, who wished to remain anonymous, took his stroke at a local HYROX fitness event in early November.

“I realised my speech was affected right away,” he said. “I couldn’t talk. No words would come out of my mouth. There was total silence. It was weird. There was no sound at all. I couldn’t even say, ‘hello’.

“I had a stroke and I couldn’t speak and they rushed me to hospital.

“I couldn’t even say ‘Hello’ to my wanes all over Christmas. There was no sound.

“In the hospital I became concerned they were discharging me and I had no help with my lack of speech. They were telling me to go home but I couldn’t talk. At that stage I had been in hospital for two weeks and all I could say were single words; I couldn’t put a sentence together,” he said.

When he asked about SLT, the man said he was told there was none available for stroke survivors in the North West in the community.

He added: “I was left with no option but to source private SLT and pay for it. I had to travel to Belfast for the hour-long sessions, which were very expensive. We were lucky we were able to afford it but I don’t think everyone could

“I really want to highlight the shocking lack of SLT locally for stroke survivors. There need to be services available. I am not the only person here who can’t or couldn’t speak,” he said.

Well known Derry TV producer Vinny Cunnngham sadly died in February.

Bloody Sunday

The annual Bloody Sunday commemorations took place in Derry in February.

Political and religious leaders joined the Bloody Sunday families for the short ceremony at the Rossville Street monument, close to where many of the victims were shot. Bishop of Derry, Donal McKeown, Rev David Jennings, Fr Michael Canny and Dr Hassan of the NW Islamic Association led a short service.

A minute’s silence was held after which the wreaths were laid, during which the names of those killed and injured were read out. The Mayor of Derry, Cllr Lilian Seenoi-Barr was among those who laid floral tributes.

Mickey McKinney, whose brother William was murdered on Bloody Sunday, delivered a speech highlighting the then ongoing case against Soldier F.

Ex-paratrooper Soldier F, who cannot be identified, was accused of murdering James Wray and William McKinney when members of the Parachute regiment shot dead 13 civil rights protesters on the streets of Derry in January 1972. He was also charged with five attempted murders. In October, Soldier F was found not guilty of the charges.

Several thousand people took part in Derry’s annual Bloody Sunday march.

The ‘March for Justice’ followed the same route of the original Bloody Sunday demonstration, from Creggan shops through the Brandywell and Bogside before ending at Free Derry Corner. Yesterday’s parade was led by people carrying white crosses in memory of those killed on Bloody Sunday.

The march was a sea of Palestinian flags and banners in support of the Palestinian people.

One of the speakers at the march was Farrah Kouteinneh, a Palestinian writer, journalist and founder of Key48.

Key48 is an online account which started out as a student movement to counteract censorship in universities.

Ms Kouteinneh said it was an 'incredible honour' to stand with the people of Derry on Bloody Sunday.

Data Centres

Later in February, Derry City and Strabane District Council was urged to consider adopting a number of proposals regarding data centres.

It followed a presentation on ‘Data Centres and Climate Concerns’ made to Council’s Environment and Regeneration committee by Méabh O’Neill from the Environmental Gathering group and John Gormley from the Save the Moat campaign.

Data centres contain computers - servers - which support the software, apps and websites used every day. They can range in size from small cabinets to stadium-size hyperscale warehouses.

The call came in response to the granting of planning approval by Council for the first stage of the Atlantic Hub development at Foyle Port, in October 2024 - a data centre, with outline permission already approved for an additional three data centres.
According to Ms O’Neill, each of these data centres will require an estimated 100 megawatt supply of electricity 24/7.

Phyllis Adams with her son Mal, at a reception held in the Mayor's Parlour to mark retirement, after 44 years volunteering with the Samaritans. (Photos - Tom Heaney, nwpresspics)

“We are here to raise serious concerns regarding how the decision was scrutinised and give an overview of why we are concerned, from a climate and environmental point of view,” said Ms O’Neill.

“[According to] international energy agencies say data centres already account for 1 to 1.5% of global energy consumption, which is massive; they also account for 2% of global emissions - on a par with aeroplane travel - and the same scrutiny is not being applied to data centres as is being applied to aeroplane travel,” she added.

The Republic of Ireland has 82 data centres; there are 14 under construction and 40 more have received planning permission.
Ms O’Neill criticised Stormont for not providing “any policy direction on data centres”.