Families of victims of IRA violence welcome apology

THE families of some of the victims of IRA violence welcomed the IRA apology and said this latest move gave the peace process renewed hope.

Tom Donnelly, who lost a sister in the Bloody Friday atrocity said: “I am totally overwhelmed by this statement.’’

He said it was “so significant” because the IRA had never released a statement before which was comparable to it.

“This year is also the 30th anniversary of the worst year of the troubles. The statement gives me a lot of hope.”

He said the statement was made without qualifications and also took into account the combatants’ role in the troubles.

“The IRA are working toward closure. As far as the victims are concerned time tends to blunt the feelings a bit. There is a tendency to move towards closure in Northern Ireland.” Mr Donnelly said he hoped the statement would prompt others to acknowledge “the harm and hurt we have inflicted upon each other.”

Colin Parry, whose 12-year-old son Tim was killed by an IRA bomb in Warrington in 1993, said the IRA move was a positive one.

“The simple, harsh truth is that I lost my son and he shouldn’t have died and nothing they can say or do will change that.

“But in the context of Northern Ireland, anything at all which builds confidence and which is clearly a move forward in the peace process has to be welcomed, so on that level, I welcome it.

“I do understand the misgivings, particularly unionist misgivings, about it not going far enough or quick enough but that said, it is historic. It would have been unthinkable not too many years ago for the IRA to have apologised for the effects of their campaign.”

Sinn Féin’s first lord mayor of Belfast, Alex Maskey described the IRA’s statement as “very significant.”

Mr Maskey, who broke new political ground when he became the first republican to lay a wreath in honour of those killed in the Battle of the Somme this month, said: “I think this apology and condolence is a very worthwhile step. I think it’s a very considerable statement.”

He said the distinction made in the statement between combatants and non-combatants was a reflection of the complexity of the situation.

“The IRA, in its statement, does recognise the grief and suffering endured by all those killed as a result of this conflict.

“It has to help in the process of how we identify victims and commemorate them properly.”