Tributes to Bloody Sunday campaigner and activist Stephen Gargan

Tributes have been paid to the late activist and Bloody Sunday campaigner Stephen Gargan who has sadly passed away.
By Kevin Mullan
Published 28th Nov 2022, 14:58 BST
Updated 30th Nov 2022, 16:14 BST
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Mr. Gargan was a founder of the Gaslight Media Trust and a member of the Bloody Sunday March Committee.

He was involved in community activism in Derry for many years and was an integral part of the Bloody Sunday March Committee’s 50th anniversary march and commemorations earlier this year.

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Tributes poured in for the well-known Dubliner following his sudden death at his Jacqueline Way home on Sunday, November 27.

The late Stephen Gargan pictured, seated at back on the left, in 1993 at the opening of 1 West End Park as the HQ of the Pat Finucane Centre. Photo: Bloody Sunday Trust.The late Stephen Gargan pictured, seated at back on the left, in 1993 at the opening of 1 West End Park as the HQ of the Pat Finucane Centre. Photo: Bloody Sunday Trust.
The late Stephen Gargan pictured, seated at back on the left, in 1993 at the opening of 1 West End Park as the HQ of the Pat Finucane Centre. Photo: Bloody Sunday Trust.

The BSMC Committee described his untimely passing as ‘devastating’.

"We would like like to extend our sincere condolences to his daughter Tríona, his son Darragh, his grand-daughters and Stephen's wider family and friends,” it stated.

Also paying tribute following his premature passing, Tony Doherty, Chair of the Bloody Sunday Trust, said: “It is with great regret that we have learned of the death of Stephen Gargan who played a key role with the Bloody Sunday families over the years and helped reinvigorate the Bloody Sunday March from the early 90s onwards.

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“Stephen also helped create public support for the Bloody Sunday Justice Campaign and the Pat Finucane Centre. Our sincere sympathy to his friends and family circle.”

The late Stephen Gargan, on right, with Doreen Wray, Liam Wray and Kate Nash at the launch of the Bloody Sunday, The Day Innocence Died' Exhibition in the Eden Place Arts Centre, Pilots Row Community Centre, earlier this year.The late Stephen Gargan, on right, with Doreen Wray, Liam Wray and Kate Nash at the launch of the Bloody Sunday, The Day Innocence Died' Exhibition in the Eden Place Arts Centre, Pilots Row Community Centre, earlier this year.
The late Stephen Gargan, on right, with Doreen Wray, Liam Wray and Kate Nash at the launch of the Bloody Sunday, The Day Innocence Died' Exhibition in the Eden Place Arts Centre, Pilots Row Community Centre, earlier this year.

The WAVE Trauma centre, which works with victims of the recent conflict, said: “It is with incredible sadness that we learned of the passing of Stephen Gargan.

"Stephen contributed so much to the pursuit of a shared understanding of our past.”

WAVE said some of Mr. Gargan’s peace-building work with it had been ‘revolutionary’.

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Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said he was ‘very sorry’ to hear of his death and described him as ‘a great campaigner for the Bloody Sunday families for many years’.

Former community worker and friend of Stephen Gargan Frankie McMenamin said: "I was very sad when i heard Stephen had died. He was heavily involved in civil rights campaigns in Derry over the last 32 years. He was involved in the anti-war campaign with ourselves back in 2003 and I want to send my condolences to his family,"

The Northern Ireland Rural Women’s Network said it was 'shocked and saddened' to learn of his death.

"We were recently working with him to plan a new programme for rural women in the next few weeks," it stated.

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NIRWN's board and staff sent its sympathies to Stephen's friends and family.

Stephen's family, friends and fellow activists will gather at St. Columb's Hall on Thursday morning at 9am to celebrate his life before his remains are taken to Newlands Cross Cemetery in Dublin for interment.