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

Tragedy struck the North West in July with the death of a mother and daughter in a road traffic collision in County Donegal.
Tributes were paid to Natalie McLaughlin, who was in her 20s, and her daughter Ella (6).

Ella died following the crash near Carndonagh, which left her mother, father and infant sister (18 months old) seriously injured. Natalie passed away in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast.

Carndonagh councillor Albert Doherty said people are still trying to come to terms with the devastating consequences of the two-vehicle collision.

Natalie and Ella McLaughlin's funeral Mass took place at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Carndonagh.

“It’s really, really devastating to take on board that some family has lost a young loved one like this. I'm thinking of all the people who could be on that road from Quigley's Point to Carn, and they could be on their way home. But to lose somebody in those circumstances is awful.”

“We are just a community that has been totally devastated. We are all raw with grief; we are sore to the core,” said Cllr Doherty.

Defending the Right to Protest

Later in July, in blazing sunshine and with a discreet PSNI presence, more than 100 people took part in a 'Defend the Right to Protest' rally in Derry's Guildhall Square.

The rally was addressed by veteran socialist, Eamonn McCann, supported by some of the people who were involved in the North's Civil Rights Movement in the late 1960s.

“We stand in homage to the people of Gaza and also we stand in order to draw attention to the connection between what is happening in Gaza and what was happening here, 50 years ago, more than 50 years ago - the whole idea of human rights which we had then," said Mr McCann.

"This is what gave us the nerve to say, 'Okay, we are going to do something about Gaza,' he added. "Back in the 1960s, when communications weren't nearly as sophisticated as they are today, when that sign 'You Are Now Entering Free Derry' was scrawled upon the wall, and when we sang 'We Shall Overcome', coming down Creggan Hill, William Street and Rossville Street, we were talking about something universal.

"It wasn't just 'We Shall Overcome', we were aware there were struggles going on elsewhere, from The Black Panthers who were being murdered by the US police to the struggles in Angola, Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau.

"But genocide hasn't stopped in the whole world, and we can contribute our voice and the voice of Derry to the cause of Palestine and that is a homage to 1968 and to everybody who took part in that sort of rising here in the North of Ireland.

"The most important thing of all is that we have the mass of the people and nothing can stop the mass of the people. They are making a contribution to the mighty ocean of resistance to Israeli oppression, which is taking place in the Middle East at the expense of the Palestinian people.

"So we are not standing here just for ourselves, just as when we marched in 50, 60 years ago, we are not simply marching for ourselves, we are marching against oppression all over the world,” said Mr McCann.

Former Foyle College fire

Foyle College Duncreggan Road fire.

July was also the month a fire on the Duncreggan Road area of the city destroyed the former junior school for Foyle College.

PSNI Officers attended the scene to assist with road closures in the area, alongside colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service who tackled the blaze.

No-one was injured in the fire which is being treated as suspected deliberate ignition.

Bonfires

The members of Derry City and Strabane District Council clashed on the issue of bonfires and the items placed on them by their builders, in July.

Speaking at the full council meeting, Deputy Mayor Alderman Niree McMorris referred to the poppy wreath she had placed at the War Memorial in Derry’s Diamond on July 1 to commemorate the Battle of the Somme.

“This service and wreath laying ceremony were to honour and remember those who gave their lives in 1916 to secure the freedoms we all enjoy today,” said Ald McMorris.

“Men and women from both religions fought and died together and they were all remembered equally and unequivocally right across this nation,” she added.

"It is unfortunate that in this city, we are repeatedly seeing these commemorative poppy wreaths stolen only later to find them placed in bonfires. The gift the fallen gave to our country and nation should be treasured by every one of us as the sacrifice they made will never and should never be forgotten.

“Due to this, I ould like to ask officers to do a scope of work looking into how we can potentially secure the wreaths from theft and vandalism going forward. We will remember them.”

Cllr Brian Tierney said he agreed with Ald McMorris that wreaths should not be stolen and placed on bonfires.

However, Cllr Tierney expressed concern at council officers being asked to come up with ideas about how poppy wreaths could be secured at the War Memorial.

“I think there's a wider issue in relation to this,” he added. “Ald Norris talked about poppy wreaths ending up on bonfires and for many years many of us from a Nationalist background have been trying to stop that.

“We have been trying to work to make sure poppy wreaths and other items that may offend people are removed from bonfires right up until they are lit.

“But what we see, unfortunately from my perspective, is that in the run-up to July bonfires, there is radio silence from people when items are placed on bonfires which may offend people from a Nationalist background. Then in July, after The Twelfth, we all focus on August 15 and one particular area,” said Cllr Tierney.