Plaque in memory of Bishop Daly unveiled in Ethiopia

A PLAQUE in memory of the late bishop of Derry Edward Daly has been unveiled at a hospital in Ethiopia to mark the fifth anniversary of his death.

Unveiled by the Children in Crossfire charity, the plaque has been placed at St Luke’s hospital in Wolisso, Ethiopia.

Children in Crossfire was established by Derry man Richard Moore in 1996 to help children in conflict zones in Tanzania and Ethiopia in particular.

Mr Moore – who was himself a child victim of the Troubles when he was blinded by a rubber bullet in 1972 – said the commemorative plaque was placed at the therapeutic feeding unit at St Luke’s which provides life-saving treatment for children with severe acute malnutrition.

“So many people in Derry and the wider diocese hold Bishop Edward Daly close to our hearts because of the pastoral care and compassion that exemplified his long ministry. He was a truly remarkable man who made an invaluable contribution to life here in the most challenging of times,”Mr Moore said.

“Bishop Daly was also a great friend of Children in Crossfire, especially our international programme work.

“We are privileged to have benefited from his kindness and felt it was timely on his fifth anniversary to recognise that support.”

St Luke’s was chosen as a site for the plaque because the hospital’s work in partnership with Children in Crossfire was one of the reasons Bishop Daly was such a strong supporter of the charity.

“Even now, five years after his passing, St Luke’s and the therapeutic feeding unit continue to benefit from Bishop Daly’s support.

“One of his lasting legacies is that some of the world’s most vulnerable children receive life-saving medical support when they need it most,” Mr Moore said.

Bishop Daly’s sister, Anne Gibson, said her family was delighted that her brother was being remembered in such a way.

“It is very comforting for us to know that he continues to be so fondly remembered and highly regarded in Derry and beyond,” Mrs Gibson said.

Co Derry priest, Fr Eamon Graham, who was a close friend of Bishop Daly, said his support for local charities was well-known.

“It was his wish that, after his death, he could still in some way support these charities, especially Children in Crossfire.

“As one of his executors, I am delighted to see his wishes carried out,” Fr Graham said.

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