Linda Emmeline Baggley was a reserve RUC constable who died in 1976, 10 days after being shot while on foot patrol with a colleague in the Waterside area of Derry.
Families of people killed in the Troubles have come together in a service of “remembrance, devotion and love” in Co Derry.
The Baggley family were among those who attended the service at Newbuildings Methodist Church near Lisnakelly.
Linda Emmeline Baggley was a reserve RUC constable who died in 1976, 10 days after being shot while on foot patrol with a colleague in the Waterside area of Derry.
Kenny Donaldson, director of victims’ group Seff (South East Fermanagh Foundation), said the service was “a wonderful representation of remembrance, devotion and love”.
“The Baggley family were foremost in our thoughts with Lorraine sharing a family reflection concerning the upcoming 50th Anniversary since the cruel murder of Linda who passed away on June 2 1976 after having been shot and seriously injured a number of days previously,” he said.
“Linda was aged just 19 years and was a Reserve RUC GC Constable, just two years earlier her daddy, William, who was also a Reservist Constable, was also murdered in Londonderry (just 100 metres separated the brutal crimes).
“Scripture lessons were read by Gillian McElholm, daughter of Michael McGinley who was murdered by the UDA/UFF in the Annie’s Bar attack, 1972, and Jennifer Millar, daughter of Charles McNaul who was murdered by the Provisional IRA, also in the city.
“And prayers were also read by Seff’s north west-based staff; Michael McKeegan, son of Lance Corporal John McKeegan who was murdered by the Provisional IRA; and Lara Burns, daughter of Robert Burns who was murdered by the IPLO.”
Children from the Newbuildings Primary School sang a number of songs and read prayers.
Part of the prayers read by the children included: “We also appreciate the responsibility on our shoulders to both carry forth the torch of remembrance but also to build a new society – a new Northern Ireland and a united community.”
Mr Donaldson, who closed the service, said Seff’s mission is the “recalibration of attitudes concerning how society divides”.
“We are clear that the religious denomination someone happens to be born into (or not) or where someone stands on the constitutional question, is not the fundamental division,” he said.
“Rather the core basis for division is where people stand on the issue of violence, in the context of the Northern Ireland Troubles – those who used, justify or seek to explain away violence are of one tribe, and those who do not are part of the other tribe.”
Seff’s memorial quilt exhibition will be hosted at the Newbuildings Methodist Church until Wednesday.
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