IRA bomb victims remembered

IRA bomb victims remembered

A public service was held close to where the bombs went off

A memorial service in Warrington on Thursday marked 10 years since IRA bombs devastated the town.

A candlelit procession took place, along with a minute's silence at 1225 GMT to remember the bombers' victims.

Floral tributes were laid at the remembrance plaque to the two young boys who died in a tragedy whose perpetrators have never been brought to justice.

Three-year-old Johnathan Ball and Tim Parry, 12, were killed and 56 people injured when bombs were detonated in Bridge Street on 20 March 1993.

Terry Waite, former envoy of the Archbishop of Canterbury who was born in Warrington, was among church leaders attending the service at the Holy Trinity Church.

When the bombs went off the shopping area was packed with people, many of whom were looking for mother's day gifts.

I will never forgive the people who did this

Wilf Ball, father of Johnathan who was killed

Johnathan had been in the town with his babysitter to buy a card for his mother.

Tim, an avid Everton fan, had been shopping for football shorts when he caught the full force of the blast. He died five days later in Liverpool's Walton Hospital.

Speaking before the service, Tim's father Colin said he does not want the terrorists to be caught but hopes they are "haunted" by guilt.

He said: "Whoever planted those bombs took away the lives of two young boys.

"I have no particular interest in seeing the people responsible caught because the weight of what they did should be punishing them enough.

"What matters to me is that whoever did this must have seen Tim's picture.

Terry Waite was among those who attended the service

"I hope Tim's image haunts them for the rest of their lives."

Johnathan's father, Wilf, said: "It still hurts me so much.

"I look great on the outside but inside I am shattered. I will never forgive the people who did this to me."

In 2000, following tireless campaigning by Tim's parents, The Tim Parry-Johnathan Ball Young People's Centre, informally known as the peace centre, opened.

A private ceremony was due to take place at the centre on Thursday.