Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan recently told of an incredible encounter he had with an old friend.
After catching up with his friend Eamon McGinley, he was told that Eamon's mother Helen had something to drop into his office, but was warned that it was a "mental story."
Mark could never have predicted that he was going to be reunited with a very special old photograph.
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In a recent social media post, Mark H Durkan spoke of how the photo of him and his late sister Gay found its way back home.
He said: "I'm completely blown away by something that just happened. My lifelong friend, Eamon McGinley, lives in England now and our catch-ups are regrettably few and far between.
"Eamon texted me yesterday to see if I was about Derry. He told me his mum Helen had something that she wanted to give me and that he would swing by my office and drop it off. Eamon warned me 'it's a bit of a mental story' and it really is!
"Mrs McGinley recently bought a book in a local charity shop. It was a novel by Danielle Steel, 'Vanished'. When she was reading the book, she felt something stuck between the pages and a photograph fell out.
"It was a photo of me and my sister, Gay, on the night of her school formal. I remember the picture being taken and I remember our Gay, believe it or not, used to have it stuck on her bedroom wall.
"We lost Gay eleven years ago. I remember her every day; her craic and her compassion. I have often wondered about this photograph - over the years I've had a few searches among her old possessions in the hope that it would turn up. It had vanished.
"Nobody in our house remembers having that book or even seeing that book and I can't imagine it would be the type of book that Gay would have bought herself.
"Gay always loved the paranormal and supernatural stuff. She was hugely interested in 'mysteries' and unexplained phenomena and I know she would be absolutely buzzing about the 'Mystery of the formal photo'!
"I've spoken before about signs that we get from people we love who are no longer with us. To me, this is a sign that Gay is still with us. She was proud of me at times when, to be honest, I didn't give anyone any reasons to be proud.
"I know she'd be so proud now of her wee nephews and nieces that she never met, and of my Luke and the man he's growing up to be. I wish she was here to enjoy them and for them to enjoy her, but they do enjoy getting to hear about her and our Deirdre, their two angel aunties.
"A huge heartfelt thanks to Helen for finding this photo and bringing me such joy."
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