The sheer courage of some, the hypocrisy of others.

I stood with hundreds yesterday along the windswept Derry Quay at the peace bridge to show support for the Quigley family who despite the ongoing tragedy over the loss for Andy Quigley who has been mising now for over a week showed courage in continuing the protest.

Dee Quigley Andy's uncle called the protest a few weeks ago after it was announced that funding for Foyle Search & Rescue & Hurt were denied funding to expand a counselling service. Little did he or his family know what was to come.

Despite the ongoing search for Andy the family bravely continued with the event yesterday, and as Andy's mother addressed the crowd, I stood and marvelled at the courage and determination that Colette Quigley demonstrated. A young lady who has suffered through using drugs also addressed the crowd as did Dee Quigley. The young lady spelled out from her exerience what many of our young people face, she was very brave to bare her soul and hopefully some of those in a position of 'power' would've listened to what she and the Quigley's said.

 Colette Quigley at Derry's peace bridge

Some of those in power were there yesterday, members of $inn Fein and members of the SDLP, and I thought to myself you bunch of forty faced fuckers, members of your parties denied the funding to Hurt & Foyle Search & Rescue, but you have the nerve to stand here today as people were gathering to protest at decisions your party colleagues made. I didn't see Councillor Paul Fleming there to justify his decision, nor did I see SDLP Councillor Ann Donnelly both members of the group that denied the funding. I however did see Pat Ramsey, Mark h Durkan, Emmet Doyle and Angela Dobbins of the SDLP, and Elsiha McCallion & Lynn Fleming of $inn Fein.

Speaking to a number of people there they were as disgusted as I was at the hypocrisy of this. I'm not denying anyone the right to assemble and show solidarity with the Quigley family, but unless these elected representatives come out and condemn the decision not to support these two charities then they are as complicit as those who made the decision.

I'm sure in light of yesterdays gathering that there are moves going on behind the scenes involving some serious back peddling to try and help those who made the decision save face.

If saving face is what it takes to get the funding in place and save lives then let these people save face, because I'm sure I'm not the only one who wants the resources there to help those who need it, even if those who made a wrong decision have to save face. And no matter how big of a face saving exercise they pull everyone knows that a shameful decision was made, the names of those who made the shameful decision and the parties/organisations they belong to.