Bloody Sunday mural vandalised

Recent vandalism of The White Handkerchief mural is Derry’s Bogside has angered local residents and distressed family members of those murdered on Bloody Sunday.

Speaking to The Derry News, Kate Nash, the former chairperson of the Bloody Sunday March Committee, said the “defacing of a wall concerning Bloody Sunday actually made me very sad”.

Ms Nash’s brother, William Nash (19) was shot dead on Bloody Sunday. Her father, Alex Nash, was shot and seriously wounded attempting to help his son. 

“It is the time of year coming up to The Bloody Sunday Commemoration when families of those murdered remember that awful day, and we know that most of our neighbours remember too, a day of deep grief still felt to this day.

“I am asking those responsible to please not do this sort of thing because the disrespect is hurtful to many people, it serves no other purpose,” said Ms Nash.

Unveiled in June 2022, The White Handkerchief mural was designed and painted by the well-known Peaball artists’ collective. Peaball was commissioned by ArtsEverywhere, alongside nine other Derry Artists to create a piece for the Museum of Free Derry exhibition ‘From Bloody Sunday to Brexit’.

The ‘BEFORE’ mural, which is alongside The White Handkerchief mural, focuses on the morning of Bloody Sunday and the anti-internment rally of January 30, 1972. 

Peaball described it as representing “the sense of community and togetherness as people sang in unison in their peaceful quest for civil rights”. 

The artists collaborated with Wild Storyteller, Derry/Donegal Author and Poet, Rosaline Callaghan who created the “amazing” haiku, ‘The White Handkerchief’. 

Local community resident, Eddie Breslin, who first noticed the vandalism said he had contacted Peaball and local councillors in the hope the mural could be restored before the 54th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday. 

“I don’t understand how anyone could deface such a special mural as The White Handkerchief, especially with the anniversary approaching and thousands of visitors expected in Derry for that weekend,” said Mr Breslin.

“It is not right and it is so disrespectful.”