Children were part of effort to save lives says Ballygawley Bomb survivor

A survivor of the Ballygawley Bus bomb has said that if it wasn’t for the men, women and children from two flute bands who rushed to the aid of soldiers the number of fatalities would be much greater.
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By Graeme Cousins
Published 19th Aug 2023, 06:59 BST

James Leatherbarrow said he was a “lost boy” after the IRA attack and that he tried to take his life twice due to PTSD.

The 56-year-old from Liverpool recalled the immediate aftermath of the roadside bomb: “I was knocked unconscious. They found me underneath the wreckage with a few other guys. They dragged me out and I lay on the road.

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"I thought we had a massive crash at first. I released afterwards that it was an explosion.”

Part of the SEFF patchwork quilt listing the soldiers who were murdered in the Ballygawley Bus bombPart of the SEFF patchwork quilt listing the soldiers who were murdered in the Ballygawley Bus bomb
Part of the SEFF patchwork quilt listing the soldiers who were murdered in the Ballygawley Bus bomb

Two coaches, bringing flute band members from Omagh and Londonderry back from a parade in Portadown, happened upon the scene.

James said: "Men, women and children came off those coaches to help us. There were kids – maybe only 11 or 12 years of age – giving first aid. Clothing had fallen out all over the road from our suitcases, they were getting them, wrapping them round us to stop the bleeding.

“If they weren’t there a lot more would be dead. I certainly would be.”

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James said he has forged a friendship with the woman, then a young girl, who gave him first aid by the roadside. He will see her again this weekend when he comes over for the memorial service to mark the 35th anniversary of the Ballygawley bomb.

James said: “I’m looking forward to seeing Grace and all of the other people who saved our lives that day.

"I enjoy coming back. We owe a lot of gratitude to the people of Omagh and Northern Ireland.”

James’ injuries included a broken back, perforated ear drums, facial and body scars, but he said the hardest thing to live with has been PTSD.

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He said: “I was bad with PTSD. I was violent. I lost my first marriage through PTSD. I lost a lot of friends through it. I nearly committed suicide through it, I tried twice. I was just lost, a lost boy basically.”

Having joined the Army in 1983 James was medically discharged in 1993: “I tried to carry on, but my career was over in 1988.

“I got married in 1988 not long after the bomb. I got divorced in 1998. Then I met Emma in 1999 and me and her have been together ever since. She’s my rock. She knows when I’m having a wobble, she says, ‘go get your fishing gear and go off fishing’. Off I go for a few days.”

James and Emma have twin girls, 18, and a son, 20, who is in the armed forces. James said: “I’ve brought them all over to show them where it happened and meet the people. If it wasn’t for those guys I wouldn’t have what I’ve got today.

"For me to carry on through life with the PTSD I always say to myself, ‘things happen for a reason’ – looking back at it, if hadn’t got blown up I wouldn’t have what I have today.”