Warrington bombing - Victims must never be forgotten

The gathering in Warrington on Wednesday night was another step in cementing the Northern peace process. It was a magnificent tribute to the tenacity and foresight of Colin Parry, whose 12-year-old son Tim was murdered in the Provisional IRA’s bombing 20 years ago. Another victim was Jonathan Ball, 3.

Mr Parry was instrumental in inviting Martin McGuinness, the North’s deputy first minister, to speak at the Tim Parry-Jonathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Mr Parry’s leadership and example in extending the invitation was highly commendable. There were about a dozen protesters outside. One was the sister of a young woman killed in the Birmingham pub bombings in 1974. She complained that Mr McGuinness talking about peace was like “asking Myra Hindley to give a talk on child protection”.

Mr McGuinness said he understood the attitude of the protesters. “My heart goes out to them because they too are people that have suffered as a result of the conflict in the north of Ireland,” he said. “I would be the last to criticise them.