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Adams apologises to boy's family Adams apologises to boy's family
(1 day later)
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams has said sorry to the parents of a boy killed when the IRA bombed Warrington.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.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.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. Mr Parry said coming face to face with the Sinn Fein leader was hard, but "easier than holding my son dying".
Earlier, Colin Parry said he could not forgive the IRA. "It is infinitely easier for Gerry and I to talk than to fight," he said.
They were attending a debate organised by Foundation for Peace, the charity set up after Tim's death.
His son Tim died along with three-year-old Johnathan Ball in the explosion.His son Tim died along with three-year-old Johnathan Ball in the explosion.
Mr Parry, who has two surviving children and still lives in Warrington, added: "I can say that inviting Gerry Adams to join me here tonight was not, as you might imagine, easy for me or for Wendy.
"But it was infinitely easier than holding my son dying. It was infinitely easier than carrying him for the final time in his coffin.
"It was infinitely easier than saying my final farewell to him with my wife."
During the debate at the Canary Wharf event, Mr Adams said Mr Parry and his wife Wendy had "borne their loss with remarkable grace".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. Gerry Adams met Colin and Wendy Parry
"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." Mr Parry said he believed the work done by the centre in Warrington and the Foundation for Peace in the past 12 years has been a "positive outcome from a tragic event".
Colin Parry said meeting Gerry Adams woud be a challenge
Mr Adams also apologised for the hurt inflicted by Irish republicans during the Troubles.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.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."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 in the Dockland's area 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 damage.