Northern Ireland

Memorial service in Warrington marks 25 years since IRA bombing

Paul Comerford, the brother of Jonathan Ball (3), who along with Tim Parry (12) was killed after the Warrington bombing, wipes his eyes during the 25th anniversary service
Paul Comerford, the brother of Jonathan Ball (3), who along with Tim Parry (12) was killed after the Warrington bombing, wipes his eyes during the 25th anniversary service Paul Comerford, the brother of Jonathan Ball (3), who along with Tim Parry (12) was killed after the Warrington bombing, wipes his eyes during the 25th anniversary service

A MINUTE of silence was observed by hundreds of people in Warrington yesterday to mark 25 years since an IRA bomb killed two young boys.

Johnathan Ball (3) and Tim Parry (12) died and 54 others were injured when two bombs hidden inside litter bins exploded on March 20 1993.

The Provisional IRA admitted responsibility the following day for the Bridge Street attack.

Families of the victims were joined by faith leaders and representatives of the British and Irish governments for the 25th anniversary memorial service.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, mayor of Liverpool Steven Rotheram, Anne the Princess Royal, and Labour MP Conor McGinn were among those who attended.

A minute's silence was observed at 12:27pm, the exact time the bombs went off.

Colin Parry, father of Tim, told the crowd that "neither Tim nor Jonathan died in vain".

Mr Parry and his wife Wendy established a Foundation for Peace in the names of the two victims.

"It's crystal clear – a day in my life I will never ever forget," he said.

He said "Tim died in my arms" five days after the attack in the town centre, where he had gone to buy a Mother's Day card.

"I'm mostly all cried out... there are occasions when a piece of music catches you unawares."

Those responsible for the attack have never been brought to justice.

File picture of the Warrington IRA bomb victims Johnathan Ball (left) and Tim Parry. The parents of the boys will today 15.12.01 come face to face with former IRA commander Martin McGuinness. Colin and Wendy Parry and Wilf and Marie Ball are meeting Mr McGuinness this evening in Warrington the Cheshire town where a double bombing killed rtheir sons and injured 56 others in 1993. They will have a private meeting at the Tim Parry and Johnathan Ball rYoung People's Centre which was opened last year. See PA story POLITICS McGuinness.
File picture of the Warrington IRA bomb victims Johnathan Ball (left) and Tim Parry. The parents of the boys will today 15.12.01 come face to face with former IRA commander Martin McGuinness. Colin and Wendy Parry and Wilf and Marie Ball are meeting Mr Mc File picture of the Warrington IRA bomb victims Johnathan Ball (left) and Tim Parry. The parents of the boys will today 15.12.01 come face to face with former IRA commander Martin McGuinness. Colin and Wendy Parry and Wilf and Marie Ball are meeting Mr McGuinness this evening in Warrington the Cheshire town where a double bombing killed rtheir sons and injured 56 others in 1993. They will have a private meeting at the Tim Parry and Johnathan Ball rYoung People's Centre which was opened last year. See PA story POLITICS McGuinness.
PA file photo undated of the Warrington IRA bomb victims Johnathan Ball (left) and Tim Parry. The IRA has apologised Friday July 16, 2002, for the killing of all "non-combatants" who died during its campaign of terror. The apology came ahead of the anniversary this week of one of the IRA's worst acts, the killing of nine people and injury of over 130 when terrorists blitzed Belfast with 27 bombs on the afternoon of July 21, 1972, - a day which became known as Bloody Friday. The IRA added that it acknowledged the grief and pain of the families of the combatants - police, soldiers and loyalist paramilitaries - killed during the violence.   Records show the IRA killed nearly 1,800 people during its terror campaign, close on 650 of them civilians.See PA story ULSTER IRA.  PA Photo..
PA file photo undated of the Warrington IRA bomb victims Johnathan Ball (left) and Tim Parry. The IRA has apologised Friday July 16, 2002, for the killing of all "non-combatants" who died during its campaign of terror. The apology came ahead of PA file photo undated of the Warrington IRA bomb victims Johnathan Ball (left) and Tim Parry. The IRA has apologised Friday July 16, 2002, for the killing of all "non-combatants" who died during its campaign of terror. The apology came ahead of the anniversary this week of one of the IRA's worst acts, the killing of nine people and injury of over 130 when terrorists blitzed Belfast with 27 bombs on the afternoon of July 21, 1972, - a day which became known as Bloody Friday. The IRA added that it acknowledged the grief and pain of the families of the combatants - police, soldiers and loyalist paramilitaries - killed during the violence. Records show the IRA killed nearly 1,800 people during its terror campaign, close on 650 of them civilians.See PA story ULSTER IRA. PA Photo..

Former Det Supt Les Lee, who was in charge of the investigation, said "professionally, it was one of the saddest things in my life".

"The first thing I saw was the remains of a cast iron bin. There were broken windows," he said.

The place was silent – that's what struck me as I was walking up Bridge Street... it was just eerie.

"I looked to my left and in the doorway was the body of Johnathan".

He said "there was a lot of anger, a lot of disgust", but it was "amazing how the town responded".

"There's no doubt in my mind that the events of Warrington had a significant impact on what subsequently happened in Northern Ireland," he said.

Wendy and Colin Parry (both right), the parents of Tim Parry, 12, and Paul Comerford (second left) the brother of Johnathan Ball, three, who were both killed in the IRA Warrington bombing attack, sit during the 25th anniversary service of the Warrington bombing, on Bridge Street, attended by the families of victims of the attack, faith leaders and representatives of the British and Irish governments. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday March 20, 2018. See PA story MEMORIAL Warrington. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.
Wendy and Colin Parry (both right), the parents of Tim Parry, 12, and Paul Comerford (second left) the brother of Johnathan Ball, three, who were both killed in the IRA Warrington bombing attack, sit during the 25th anniversary service of the Warrington b Wendy and Colin Parry (both right), the parents of Tim Parry, 12, and Paul Comerford (second left) the brother of Johnathan Ball, three, who were both killed in the IRA Warrington bombing attack, sit during the 25th anniversary service of the Warrington bombing, on Bridge Street, attended by the families of victims of the attack, faith leaders and representatives of the British and Irish governments. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday March 20, 2018. See PA story MEMORIAL Warrington. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.
The Princess Royal during the 25th anniversary service of the Warrington bombing, on Bridge Street, attended by the families of victims of the attack, faith leaders and representatives of the British and Irish governments. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday March 20, 2018. See PA story MEMORIAL Warrington. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.
The Princess Royal during the 25th anniversary service of the Warrington bombing, on Bridge Street, attended by the families of victims of the attack, faith leaders and representatives of the British and Irish governments. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture The Princess Royal during the 25th anniversary service of the Warrington bombing, on Bridge Street, attended by the families of victims of the attack, faith leaders and representatives of the British and Irish governments. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday March 20, 2018. See PA story MEMORIAL Warrington. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.
The Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham (second left) and the Mayor of the Liverpool Steven Rotheram (fourth left) sit with faith leaders, during the 25th anniversary service of the Warrington bombing, on Bridge Street, attended by the families of victims of the attack, faith leaders and representatives of the British and Irish governments. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday March 20, 2018. See PA story MEMORIAL Warrington. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.
The Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham (second left) and the Mayor of the Liverpool Steven Rotheram (fourth left) sit with faith leaders, during the 25th anniversary service of the Warrington bombing, on Bridge Street, attended by the families of vi The Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham (second left) and the Mayor of the Liverpool Steven Rotheram (fourth left) sit with faith leaders, during the 25th anniversary service of the Warrington bombing, on Bridge Street, attended by the families of victims of the attack, faith leaders and representatives of the British and Irish governments. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday March 20, 2018. See PA story MEMORIAL Warrington. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.