This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7071981.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Adams apologises to boy's family | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has said sorry to the parents of a boy killed when the IRA bombed Warrington. | |
Mr Adams made the apology to Colin and Wendy Parry whose 12-year-old son Tim was one of two children who died in the blast in 1993. | |
The West Belfast MP met the family at Canary Wharf in London, which was also damaged in an IRA explosion. | |
They were attending an event organised by Foundation for Peace, the charity set up after Tim's death. | |
Earlier, Colin Parry said he could not forgive the IRA. | |
His son Tim died along with three-year-old Johnathan Ball in the explosion. | |
During the debate at the Canary Wharf event, Mr Adams said Mr Parry and his wife Wendy had "borne their loss with remarkable grace". | |
Before the event, Colin Parry, who set up the Tim Parry/Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace, said meeting Mr Adams and sharing a public platform him would be very challenging. | |
"However, it is a vital step on my own personal journey to reconciliation and a vital step too for the foundation in living up to its charter principles." | "However, it is a vital step on my own personal journey to reconciliation and a vital step too for the foundation in living up to its charter principles." |
Colin Parry said meeting Gerry Adams woud be a challenge | Colin Parry said meeting Gerry Adams woud be a challenge |
Mr Adams also apologised for the hurt inflicted by Irish republicans during the Troubles. | |
He said the foundation was an example of how people who had been grievously hurt, were able to produce something good and constructive. | |
"I therefore want to acknowledge Colin and Wendy Parry's personal journey and how they have created this positive space from the place of deep trauma and grief they personally experienced," he said. | "I therefore want to acknowledge Colin and Wendy Parry's personal journey and how they have created this positive space from the place of deep trauma and grief they personally experienced," he said. |
"Irish republicans - the IRA - was responsible for what happened that day. It brought huge grief to these two families, as well as to others hurt in that incident. | "Irish republicans - the IRA - was responsible for what happened that day. It brought huge grief to these two families, as well as to others hurt in that incident. |
"The IRA expressed its regret at what had happened... I have also expressed my personal and sincere regret, and apologised for the hurt inflicted by republicans. | |
"I do so again this evening. This is the right and proper thing to do." | "I do so again this evening. This is the right and proper thing to do." |
In 1996, Canary Wharf witnessed a devastating IRA bomb attack which marked an end to the Provisionals' two year ceasefire. | In 1996, Canary Wharf witnessed a devastating IRA bomb attack which marked an end to the Provisionals' two year ceasefire. |
Two people died and the bomb caused millions of pounds worth of damage. | Two people died and the bomb caused millions of pounds worth of damage. |