Victim's father welcomes IRA statement
Colin Parry, whose 12-year-old son Tim was killed by an IRA bomb in Warrington in 1993, welcomed the IRA's announcement.
He told BBC Radio 4’s PM programme: ‘‘The simple, harsh truth is that I lost my son and he shouldn’t have died and nothing they can say or do will change that.
‘‘But in the context of Northern Ireland, anything at all which builds confidence and which is clearly a move forward in the peace process has to be welcomed, so on that level I welcome it.
‘‘I do understand the misgivings, particularly unionist misgivings, about it not going far enough or quick enough but that said, it is historic.
‘‘It would have been unthinkable not too many years ago for the IRA to have apologised for the effects of their campaign.’’
Sinn Fein’s first lord mayor of Belfast, Alex Maskey described the IRA’s statement as ‘‘very significant’’.
Mr Maskey, who broke new political ground when he became the first Irish republican to lay a wreath in honour of those killed in the Battle of the Somme this month, said: ‘‘I think this apology and condolence is a very very worthwhile step. I think it’s a very considerable statement.’’
He said the distinction made in the statement between combatants and non-combatants was a reflection of the complexity of the situation.
‘‘The IRA, in its statement, does recognise the grief and suffering endured by all those killed as a
result of this conflict.
‘‘It has to help in the process of how we identify victims and commemorate them properly.’’
He also welcomed the fact that the IRA reaffirmed its commitment to the peace process in the statement.
‘‘I think that’s a very important addition to this particular statement and I do hope that there will be those in our society who have been bereaved, even by the IRA, who will take it at face value.’’
Mr Maskey said he saw no linkage between the IRA statement and the current political crisis.
He added: ‘‘Republicans have been debating the issue of victims for some time.’’
