Shankill tears turn to joy

The Shankill bombing killed nine innocent people

A little girl whose family was torn apart in one of the worst atrocities of the Northern Ireland Troubles has been described as a symbol of hope for the future.

Lauren Baird was just 12-weeks-old when her mother, father and sister were murdered in the Shankill Road bombing exactly 10 years ago.

Nine men, women and children died in the explosion which ripped through Frizzells' Fish Shop in October 1993.

One of the IRA bombers, Thomas Begley, also died.

Lauren and her brother Darren, who was just nine at the time, have been cared for by her grandparents.

Although too young to know what happened, she has been made aware of the tragedy.

But now she is facing the future with hope.

She said: "My favourite pop group is Black Eyed Peas. My second favourite is Love Ink.

"I'm in a group and there's nine of us and we're all getting extra homework for the 11-Plus next year," she said.

She said she wanted to be a teacher when she grew up.

Lauren Baird was 12-weeks-old when the IRA tore apart her family

Her uncle Charlie Butler said Lauren had been a treat to watch growing up.

"She was our child of hope," he said.

"We've seen her grow up with her grandparents and brother.

"To lose a family and have the likes of them to comfort you. In a sense, her and Darren have been a treat to her family."

However, not everyone has been able to move on. Staff at the Shankill Stress and Trauma Group are still picking up the pieces of shattered lives.

Mina Wardle of the group said: "It left this community with the smell of death and destruction and dust that didn't clear for a year.

"That was the legacy of that day, the physical injuries, the mental injuries, the death, the grave yards.

"But in dealing with that there is a hope for the future.

"I think those who have suffered most will ensure that there is a better legacy for their children in the years to come."

On Thursday evening, a memorial service was held at Saint Matthews Church to remember the victims of the bombing.