Community petition causes split

The petition was launched following the murder of Emmett Shiels.

A petition to unite people following the murder of Emmett Shiels has caused divisions in the community.

The campaign, organised by community workers, urges dissident republicans to "choose another path" and was signed by hundreds of people.

Bishop of Derry Seamus Hegarty has refused to sign it.

His spokesman Father Michael Canny said he felt "it did not go far enough to condemn violence and people who propose it to be a legitimate means".

On Thursday, Emmet Shiels's family made a direct appeal to Bishop Seamus Hegarty to rethink his position.

Maureen Wilkinson, Emett Shiels's sister said she could not understand why anybody would not sign it "if it was to get guns off the streets of Northern Ireland".

"We have lost a family member because of a gun, stand up and be counted," she said.

Some of the petition organisers criticised the bishop's decision, including Creggan community worker Seamus Heaney.

"The Catholic Church in this city, and Ireland in general, has failed to show leadership at the appropriate time and this is just another instance of that," Mr Heaney said.

"I think they've miscalculated and misunderstood what were trying to do here."

SDLP assembly member Pat Ramsey said he understood why the bishop had reservations and had doubts about signing the petition himself.

"I still have my doubts why I did do it, for me it was more to do with the family," he said.

"I think there's a consistent approach, that this needs to stop."