Northern Ireland

Babysitter of toddler killed in Warrington bomb urges police to reinvestigate IRA attack

Warrington IRA bomb victims Johnathan Ball and Tim Parry
Warrington IRA bomb victims Johnathan Ball and Tim Parry Warrington IRA bomb victims Johnathan Ball and Tim Parry

THE babysitter of a toddler killed in an IRA bombing in Warrington 25 years ago has called for police to reinvestigate the attack.

Samantha Thompson, then aged just 13, was holding three-year-old Johnathan Ball's hand when a bomb hidden inside a litter bin they were standing beside exploded.

Johnathan and 12-year-old Tim Parry were killed and 54 others were injured when two bombs hidden inside bins exploded on Bridge Street on March 20 1993.

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

Ms Thompson (38) told how she and her friends innocently moved towards the second blast after hearing the first – believing it was ­something heavy falling off a lorry.

Although she suffered serious injuries, she managed to drag Johnathan to a doorway for shelter – but nothing could be done to save him.

The mother-of-two told the Daily Mirror: "It is as clear as ever. As if it was yesterday.

"I was with my friend with her little sister. Her little sister's shoe fell off so she stopped, otherwise she would have been with us. Me and Johnathan continued to run into Bridge Street.

"I thought it [the explosion] sounded like a big piece of sheet metal, falling from a lorry. We stood alongside the bin, just looking up the street, and it went off. Johnathan was still holding my hand.

"I will never forget the smell. It was like lighting a match, a burning smell. I can't remember hearing anything, other than the blast. My instinct took over, I just got my hands under his armpits and dragged him into a shop doorway.

"I did not have a clue I was hurt. A man appeared and he was a godsend. He just kept saying, 'What's your home number?' We did not have mobiles.

"He rolled Johnathan over and I remember him saying, 'He is gone.' His little eyes were half shut. And I passed out. That is the last time I saw him."

Ms Thompson had a string of ­operations to remove shrapnel from her body.

She was left psychologically damaged and would not talk about her experience, but following the 25th anniversary she decided it was time to speak of her ordeal.

She said she is disappointed no-one has ever been held to account for the ­bombings, and hopes speaking out may encourage people to provide new information to police.

Cheshire Police said it carried out a "comprehensive" investigation but there are currently no "active lines of enquiry".

Relatives of Tim Parry and Johnathan Ball at a service marking 25 years since the Warrington bombing
Relatives of Tim Parry and Johnathan Ball at a service marking 25 years since the Warrington bombing Relatives of Tim Parry and Johnathan Ball at a service marking 25 years since the Warrington bombing