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Omagh bomb relative makes 'difficult' NI visit decision | Omagh bomb relative makes 'difficult' NI visit decision |
(about 3 hours later) | |
"I hate them. I know it's a strong word. I hate what they've done." | "I hate them. I know it's a strong word. I hate what they've done." |
For Donna-Maria Barker, the loss of her 12-year-old son in the 1998 Omagh bomb is still searingly raw. | For Donna-Maria Barker, the loss of her 12-year-old son in the 1998 Omagh bomb is still searingly raw. |
James Barker was one of 29 people - including a woman pregnant with twins - killed in the Real IRA attack in 1998. | James Barker was one of 29 people - including a woman pregnant with twins - killed in the Real IRA attack in 1998. |
But, despite the pain of the memory, Mrs Barker will return to Northern Ireland - and Omagh - this weekend for a service dedicated to "children of the Troubles". | But, despite the pain of the memory, Mrs Barker will return to Northern Ireland - and Omagh - this weekend for a service dedicated to "children of the Troubles". |
The service takes place in Fivemiletown Methodist Church in County Tyrone, on Sunday. | |
It will include the dedication of a quilt to Alan Jack, the Troubles' youngest victim, who died aged five months after a bomb in Strabane in 1972. | It will include the dedication of a quilt to Alan Jack, the Troubles' youngest victim, who died aged five months after a bomb in Strabane in 1972. |
Ms Barker, who is originally from Londonderry but lives in England, will dedicate a patch of the memorial quilt to her son - but said she will also visit the town where her son died. | Ms Barker, who is originally from Londonderry but lives in England, will dedicate a patch of the memorial quilt to her son - but said she will also visit the town where her son died. |
She is being hosted by the organisation, the South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF). | |
She said it was a "very difficult decision and it is going to be hard". | She said it was a "very difficult decision and it is going to be hard". |
"I am so lucky that my youngest son, Oliver-Tristan, will accompany me. I'm doing it for James, only James, not for myself," she told BBC Radio Foyle. | "I am so lucky that my youngest son, Oliver-Tristan, will accompany me. I'm doing it for James, only James, not for myself," she told BBC Radio Foyle. |
No one has been convicted over the bombing and Ms Barker said she believes that she will never see justice in her lifetime. | No one has been convicted over the bombing and Ms Barker said she believes that she will never see justice in her lifetime. |
Earlier this year, relatives of the victims announced they would sue the PSNI's chief constable for failings they believed allowed the killers to escape justice. | Earlier this year, relatives of the victims announced they would sue the PSNI's chief constable for failings they believed allowed the killers to escape justice. |
"It's very sad, but if I lose that anger in me, I lose the fight for James. And, I know being a Catholic myself, that you have to forgive and forget. No, no. | "It's very sad, but if I lose that anger in me, I lose the fight for James. And, I know being a Catholic myself, that you have to forgive and forget. No, no. |
"It'd have been different if my child had have been seriously ill, or knocked over, or killed by a car or something like that. | "It'd have been different if my child had have been seriously ill, or knocked over, or killed by a car or something like that. |
"But this was vicious. They wanted to maim and kill and I hate them. I hate what they've done to my life and my kids' life. | "But this was vicious. They wanted to maim and kill and I hate them. I hate what they've done to my life and my kids' life. |
"In my short life, I don't think I'll ever get justice." | "In my short life, I don't think I'll ever get justice." |
That anger is something that Ms Barker also directs at herself. | That anger is something that Ms Barker also directs at herself. |
"People will say, '19 years, life goes on'. Life doesn't go on. But, I have to live with it, what I did. To take him to Ireland, to give him a better quality of life - I have to live with that every single day of my life. | "People will say, '19 years, life goes on'. Life doesn't go on. But, I have to live with it, what I did. To take him to Ireland, to give him a better quality of life - I have to live with that every single day of my life. |
"Yes, I do blame myself. And that's why my life will be in a rut. I can't go forward." | "Yes, I do blame myself. And that's why my life will be in a rut. I can't go forward." |
However, the memory of James, and the encouragement of her children, is what helped her decide to return to Northern Ireland this weekend. | However, the memory of James, and the encouragement of her children, is what helped her decide to return to Northern Ireland this weekend. |
"I was at the grave yesterday, it was my birthday, and I stayed for about an hour, an hour and a half. | "I was at the grave yesterday, it was my birthday, and I stayed for about an hour, an hour and a half. |
"My children said, 'Mum, you have to do it, you have to do it for James'. And he will live on in that quilt." | "My children said, 'Mum, you have to do it, you have to do it for James'. And he will live on in that quilt." |
Director of Services at SEFF Kenny Donaldson said the organisation was "honoured" to host the Barker family and many other families. | |
He said the memorial quilt would include 62 patches dedicated to "individual innocents murdered through terrorism - Protestant, Roman Catholic and Dissenter and which contains a special central tribute to children murdered through terrorism". | |
He added: "We will also be working with individual families in enabling them to meet with people and/or visit places which have significance with the injustices, loss and memories which they hold. | |
"Our core aim is to contribute towards bringing about a level of healing for those who have been so grievously wronged." |
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