Letter: The Shankill bomb was a heinous act of premediated IRA violence

Yet another milestone anniversary has been reached and it is clear to see over recent days the very painful legacy which remains within the Shankill community but particularly within the families directly impacted through having loved ones stolen away.

Their loved ones are described by many as ordinary men, women and children - the truth is that they were extraordinary people to those who knew them most intimately. And contrary to what is also often remarked; they were not in the wrong place at the wrong time, they were where they had entitlement to be, going about their lives - working, shopping or going for a walk. The terrorists had no right to be where they were, nor to carry out the heinous act of premediated violence which they did.

Any claims by the Provisional IRA and other mouthpieces for that organisation that it was not intended to steal civilian lives is disingenuous at best, and at worst a blatant lie. When you bring a bomb to where it was brought, the likelihood was always going to mean civilian casualties. The Provisional IRA took that assessment and were willing to view such individuals as acceptable collateral damage.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Shankill families and that tightknit community today and every day. SEFF organisational reps were present at the church service in West Kirk Presbyterian on Monday afternoon and the following week we will join with the Greysteel families in also standing with them and signalling our opposition and contempt for the terror meted out upon them.

Fourteen people were butchered by loyalist terrorists in response to Shankill in what were claimed to be "revenge" actions.

All those families will mark 30th anniversaries this week and our thoughts and prayers go out to all innocents impacted.

Kenny Donaldson, SEFF director, Fermanagh