During his time in Derry , he took part in the civil rights marches ; he had first-hand experience of the Battle of the Bogside in 1969 , the early years of the Troubles , internment , and the events of Bloody Sunday , in which British soldiers fired on unarmed protesters on 30 January 1972 , killing 14 people . Daly became a public figure after he was witnessed using a blood-stained handkerchief as a white flag in an attempt to escort 17-year-old Jackie Duddy , a wounded protester , to safety . Duddy died of his injuries soon after and Daly administered the last rites ; he later described the events as " a young fella who was posing no threat to anybody being shot dead unjustifiably " . Duddy 's family gave Daly a photograph of Jackie , which Daly always kept on his desk . He also gave an interview for the BBC in which he insisted , contrary to official reports , that the protesters were unarmed . He testified as such to the Widgery Tribunal , though he also testified that he had seen a man with a gun on the day , to the anger of some of those involved ; the Widgery Report largely exonerated the British Army , perpetuating the controversy . Years later , Daly opined that the events of Bloody Sunday were a significant catalyst to the violence in Northern Ireland , and that the shootings served to greatly increase recruitment to the IRA
Bloody Sunday
Bloody Sunday (1972)
Edward Daly (bishop)