A host of dignitaries joined a large crowd at St Eugene's Cathedral on Friday to mark the 40th anniversary of the death of the first Derry man to die in the Troubles.
Forty-two year-old father of nine Sammy Devenny, who died from a heart attack connected to an attack in his home by RUC officers three months earlier, was remembered by family members and friends.
Among the attendance were the North's Deputy Fir
st Minister Martin McGuinness, former Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan, SDLP leader Mark Durkan, retired Bishop Derry, Dr Edward Daly, and Derry's Mayor Paul Fleming.
Members of the Devenny family travelled to Derry from Britain and the US for the remembrance service.
Mr Devenny's daughter Ann, who lives in New York, said it was great that the whole family were able to make the journey to Derry.
"We are all home because we need and love each other. It is being together that got us through it at the time," she said.
Ms Devenny said her family had hoped that her father's death would be the "first and last" life to be taken as the Troubles broke out.
"We had hoped at the time he was the only one but so many people have died and so many people have suffered since," Ms Devenny said.
She added that Friday evening's ceremony was a much more poignant day for her than any other anniversary.
"The 40-year anniversary is the hardest day apart from the first two weeks after his death."
An informal reception for the family was also held by Mayor Paul Fleming at the Guildhall on Friday afternoon.
On April 19, 1969 police chased several young people who fled from nearby rioting into the Devenny home. When the police entered the house and failed to find their targets - who ran out the back door - they turned on the family, including some of the children. The beating Mr Devenny received triggered a heart attack which caused his death.
