Relatives mark Air India bomb anniversary
Relatives of 329 people killed in the Air India bombing off the south-west coast of Ireland were gathering today to mark the 25th anniversary of the tragedy.
The families will join Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin and other dignitaries at the Sheep’s Head peninsula in west Cork to recall the moment the plane, carrying mostly Canadians of Indian descent, was attacked.
A minute’s silence will be held at a monument to the victims, followed by chanting from their relatives and the laying of wreaths.
Mr Martin is expected to be accompanied by Indian minister for corporate affairs Salman Khurshid and Canadian minister for immigration Jason Kenney.
Flight 182 was en route from Montreal to London when a bomb exploded in the baggage compartment, killing all the passengers and crew on board.
The wreckage was located around 120 miles off the coast of Cork.
Dublin woman Brenda O’Tighearnaigh, who had family connections with the Indian embassy in Ireland, spent six weeks in Cork assisting distraught relatives in the aftermath of the terrorist attack.
The primary school teacher still wears dozens of silver bracelets on her arms, each one given to her by the families she helped.
“I think we need to remember because it could happen to any of our relatives in any part of the world,” she said. “We’re staying on a journey with the families who are still coming every year.”
Ms O’Tighearnaigh, now 55, helped identify bodies, find accommodation for relatives and friends who had travelled to Cork and organise numerous cremations.
The only victim buried in Dublin is 15-month-old Ankur Seth, whose immediate family were also killed in the bombing.
A small white marble headstone in Glasnevin cemetery marks the spot where the infant was laid to rest.
“In Hindu tradition babies aren’t cremated so his relatives decided he should be buried here,” Ms O’Tighearnaigh said.
“They were in shock when they came – all the families were. The relatives were hopeful that there might be some people found alive, and then they were just waiting for the bodies to be brought in.”
Derry Canty, mayor of Cork County Council, said the tragedy is still fresh in the minds of local people.
“There were a lot of friendships struck up between the relatives and the local people who went out there and stood at the edge of the water hoping and praying with them,” he added.
“The families never really said goodbye. It’s still in their hearts and minds, there seems to be no closure on it.
“It doesn’t matter whether it’s 20 or 40 years on, people will still come from Canada and India to remember.”
