Politicians urged to move forward as a tribute to Shankill bombing victims
A CLERGYMAN has pleaded with politicians to lead Northern Ireland forward as a tribute to all those who perished in the Shankill bomb 25 years ago.
Rev David Clawson’s emotional appeal on behalf of the bereaved families was heard by former First Minister Arlene Foster and Alliance leader Naomi Long, who were among the hundreds of people packed into West Kirk Presbyterian Church yesterday.
“We want to put the days of violence and destruction behind us,” the minister told them.
“And we beg our politicians to lead us on in memory of the innocent lives which were cut short.”
Relatives of the nine Protestants murdered in the no-warning bomb that exploded in Frizzell’s fish shop on October 23, 1993 wept during the memorial service on the 25th anniversary of the IRA atrocity.
The names of the dead were read out during the service, including shopkeeper and fatherof-three John Frizzell (63) who died alongside his daughter Sharon McBride (29).
Only a choir made up of children from a number of local primary schools offered a glimmer of hope to the bereaved and injured
who reflected on the day that changed their lives forever.
The tender voices of around 30 children all born more than a decade after the Good Friday Agreement brought smiles to otherwise sombre faces.
Then, as a violin played Tribute To The Innocent, Sea Cadets marched to the scene where the horror unfolded.
They were followed by pupils from Harmony Primary School and Belfast Girls’ Model, who laid wreaths in memory of the dead at 1.06pm — the exact time that the bomb unleashed so much destruction.
Hundreds of people who lined the street fell silent in a solemn act of remembrance, which was only interrupted by the chimes of a bell.
It rang nine times in honour of each person killed, including George Williamson (63) and his wife Gillian (49), who left behind two children.
Michael Morrison (27), his partner Evelyn Baird (27) and their seven-year-old daughter Michelle were also remembered, along with mother-of-two Wilma McKee (38) and teenager Leanne Murray (13), whose lives were cut short.
Their loved ones, still grieving after all these years, were praised for courageously sharing their heart-wrenching stories and assured that their harrowing words had not fallen upon deaf ears.
“We have all heard you say ‘we don’t want to go back’ and ‘we don’t want anyone else to go through what we have went through’,” Rev Clawson said.
Referring to Psalm 116, the clergyman said the “chords of death have entangled” a community which has struggled every single day to cope with unbearable trauma.
“The anguish of the grave has come over many families and this city has been overcome by distress and sorrow for too many years,” he added.
“We have been brought through by the grace of God and it feels like some have only made it by the skin of their teeth.”
He urged everyone to “cast bitterness aside” and be thankful that things are better today.
He acknowledged that those bearing deep scars will not find it easy to do, but warned that the only alternative is to give in to cynicism.
“It would have been easy, the Psalmist says, to write everyone off as liars and push people away, but he doesn’t,” the minister said.
Rev Clawson concluded by urging all of us to learn from the example of the bereaved families who have led the community well.
DUP leader Arlene Foster sought to comfort relatives of the deceased as she embraced them after the commemoration, which was also attended by representatives of the Ballymurphy Massacare families.
Mrs Foster assured all of those whose lives were ripped apart on a sunny Shankill afternoon that the magnitude of their pain is matched by the “strength and determination” of a community willing to stand beside them.
❝ This city has been overcome by distress and sorrow for too many years