Kathleen Gillespie & Anne Walker: Hope After A Human Bomb

On 24 October 1990 Patsy Gillespie was chained into his seat and made to drive into an army base with a van carrying over 1200 pounds of explosives. His wife Kathleen Gillespie and some of her family were held at gunpoint until the bomb detonated. Patsy has become known as the “human bomb”. He saved lives as he waved his arms and shouted for soldiers to run. 5 soldiers and Patsy died that day. Kathleen Gillespie, Patsy’s widow, is a remarkable woman of courage, passion and empathy.

 

In this interview we speak both to Kathleen and to Anne Walker. Anne is a woman of warmth and courage. Anne had been a Republican activist in Derry/Londonderry in the late 80’s. Her job was moving weapons and bomb making equipment around. Today Kathleen and Anne are friends. They share in this remarkable interview about the horrors of war and conflict. They share about courage and about the sadness over past decisions. They also share a remarkable story of grace and redemption.

 

Today these two women are firm and deep friends. 30 years ago the IRA was committed to militarily defeating British rule in Northern Ireland. Patsy came from the Catholic/nationalist community but because he was working in a British army base he was regarded as a legitimate target by the IRA. When we look back at those years we can see that it was a meaningless cycle of violence. It is deeply moving to hear Anne share about her horror at what Republicans did in the murder of Kathleen’s husband. The beauty of the grace Kathleen showed years later to Anne is awe inspiring. Listen to learn, and listen to become part of the change we need to see in the world. This is an amazingly moving interview. Anne and Kathleen are heroes. They show us how the cycle of violence can be stopped, with grace.