Covid-19: NI families gather to recall loved ones who died in pandemic

Bereaved relatives hold a minute's silence in Londonderry's Peace Flame Garden to recall loved ones who died in the pandemic

Families who lost loved ones during the Covid pandemic have been taking part in events across Northern Ireland to remember those who died.

They have been organised by the Memory Stones of Love group, which was set up by families wanting to remember their loved ones together.

Events are taking place across the UK on Sunday to remember lives lost as part of a national day of reflection.

In Londonderry bereaved families took part in a walk across the Peace Bridge.

A minute's silence was then held in the city's Peace Flame Garden.

Ciaran Ward's parents Bredge and Owen Ward, from Strabane, County Tyrone, died within 12 hours of each other in November 2020.

Ciaran Ward, whose parents died on the same day during the Covid pandemic

"Today is a special day for all of the bereaved families to come together to grieve together to remember their loved ones," Mr Ward told BBC News NI.

"For myself, during the pandemic to lose Mum and Dad, it feels surreal, it still doesn't feel real."

Mr Ward recalled being unable to visit his parents in hospital due to the strict measures put in place at the time to reduce transmission of the Covid-19 virus.

"Not being able to see them - everyone in life wants to be with their family as they pass away," he said. "And they also want to be at home. And for us, for Mum and Dad - they were denied that."

He added: "It's important that as a collective society that we all come together and we remember the horror that has happened and the trauma that has happened for so many people."

Catriona Myles whose schoolteacher dad Gerry McLarnon died during the pandemic

Catriona Myles's father Gerry McLarnon was 67 when he died during the pandemic.

She recalled how her dad, who suffered from cancer, died without family members present when he was admitted to hospital in December 2020 after contracting Covid.

The annual day of reflection is "so important for the families", she said.

She said she was at Sunday's event "to bring comfort, compassion and solidarity to other families that have faced the same losses as ourselves".

"Everyone wants to move on and I understand that as a society we need to move on but, for the families, there are so many questions unanswered," she added.

"And it's a very lonely place that we're in a lot of the time."

Families also attended events in Belfast and Enniskillen to remember those who died.

Brenda Doherty, whose mother Ruth died during the pandemic, at a craft event in Belfast on Sunday organised by Memory Stones of Love

In Belfast Memory Stones of Love organised a the craft event, from which bereaved family members planned to walk together to Belfast City Hall, which will be lit up yellow in memory of those who died.

Last year the group laid more than 300 memory stones in the shape of a heart outside City Hall.

The stones were individually painted and bore the name of a loved one who died in the pandemic.

Other public buildings across Northern Ireland, including the Guildhall in Derry, will also be illuminated yellow on Sunday evening as a mark of respect.