Shankill remembers victims of terrorist atrocities

Organised as part of the Shankill bomb 25th anniversary commemorations, the Walk to Remember event saw local people gather at the sites of five atrocities along the road – the Balmoral Showrooms (1971, four killed), Bayardo Bar (1975, five killed), Frizzell’s fish shop (1993, nine killed plus the bomber), Four Step Inn (1971, two killed) and the Mountainview Tavern (1975, five killed).

A short religious service was held at each site and the names of those killed were read out before wreaths and flowers were laid in memory of those who lost their lives.

At the scene of the 1993 Shankill bomb, family members laid flowers together and comforted each other as they remembered those murdered in the IRA attack 25 years ago.

Charlie Butler, who lost his niece Evelyn Baird, her partner Michael Morrison and their seven-year-old daughter Michelle Baird that day, said the community’s show of support was comforting for the families.

“It has been devastating for 25 years and it’s still devastating, but events like this let us know that people still feel for us and are still there for us, so it does help,” he said.

“I am from the Shankill and I remember every one of these atrocities, but on the day of the Shankill bomb I was actually there. I dug people out of the rubble. I dug out the body of Leanne Murray, but I didn’t know members of my own family were buried under there as well.”

Saying the Walk to Remember event was “healing” for the families of the victims, he added: “This gives me comfort, just knowing that people still remember. The people of the Shankill will never forget.”

Rev Canon James Carson, rector of St Michael’s Church in Craven Street, took part in the event, reading out the names of those killed in the Bayardo Bar bombing.

“We hope this is part of the healing process for the families of those who were killed in the five bombs on the road – four in the 1970s and the Shankill bomb in 1993,” he told the News Letter.

“We hope that we will see no more violence in Northern Ireland. We have suffered enough over the years. We hope and pray for a better time of peace to come.”