Member's statement: Linda Baggley
Member's statement by Mrs Julie Middleton on .
- MLA
- Mrs Julie Middleton
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 2 June 2026
- Type
- Member's statement
- Business
- Members' Statements
- Heading
- Linda Baggley
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5583899
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I rise to pay tribute to a young lady whose life was violently stolen exactly 50 years ago today, 2 June 1976, after she was shot by IRA terrorists on 23 May. Today, I ask Members to forever remember the name of Linda Baggley. The Baggley family went through so much at the hands of terrorism that they never should have had to endure. They lost a beloved husband and father in another senseless and vile act of terrorism, and then, precious Linda, cruelly murdered around 100 metres from where her father had been murdered just two years before. To add to their pain, Linda's mother, Joan, was prevented from reaching Linda in her final moments due to a terrorist bomb scare outside the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. Joan, who is now in her heavenly home, and Linda's sister, Lorraine, and brother, Graham, have suffered more than any family ever should. There will never be any justification for it. I make no apologies for being emotional as I pay tribute to the precious life of Reserve Constable Linda Baggley, murdered at the hands of the IRA at just 19 years of age. On Sunday, I was honoured to attend a remembrance service organised by the South East Fermanagh Foundation, during which Linda's sister, Lorraine, an incredible woman whom I am so proud to know, spoke of her sister, her father and the journey that the family had been through. Linda was described as "bubbly and full of life". Lorraine further said:
"After Linda's passing, our house became so empty. There was no laughter, just darkness and sadness. Through time, and with the love and help of aunts and uncles, our church, Glendermott parish, and the RUC GC family, we continued life as best we could, although we were forever mindful just how different life was without our precious dad and loving sister."
Members, I am sure that you will all agree that having a father and husband stolen away in a violent manner, followed by a daughter and sister stolen in a violent manner — both innocent individuals — just two years apart is something unimaginable: a pain that no one should have to bear. Today, I ask simply for those perpetrators to examine their morality and their conscience. I call for truth and justice. In loving memory of Reserve Constable William Baggley and his daughter Reserve Constable Linda Baggley, both forever loved, forever remembered, and, in Linda's case, forever 19.
412 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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