‘Keep my son Tim’s name on building’

FEAR COUNCIL PLANS TO ERASE PLAQUE FOR GOOD

THE father of an IRA bombing victim has begged a council to keep his son’s name on a Peace Centre set up in his memory.

Colin Parry set up an educational peace charity as a memorial to son Tim (12), who was killed in Warrington and Johnathan Ball (3) in 1993.

Warrington Borough Council acquired its building as part of a scheme to develop it, but Colin and wife Wendy fear the boys’ names may be taken off.

Colin, who is chairman of the Tim Parry

Johnathan Ball

Peace Foundation, said: “If the council take the boys’ names off the building, I will be furious.

“They can take the

Peace Centre off because it will not be the

Peace Centre anymore, but this place was built in their memories.”

Attack

The March 1993 attack killed both boys and injured 54 others when two bombs detonated in Bridge Street.

Johnathan was killed instantly and Tim — who had been in town buying Everton shorts — died later in hospital.

It was the second time the town was targeted by the PIRA in a month. The first bombing, at a gas storage facility, caused significant damage but no injuries.

Colin and Wendy created the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Peace Foundation in 1995 to raise money and provide programmes to help those affected by terrorism.

A report went to the council’s cabinet to approve investment to develop the Peace Centre facility in June 2022.

It detailed plans to create a site, supporting youths and the relocation of sixth form services from Woolston Learning Village. The foundation will remain at the site but Colin added: “I want it to be the

Tim Parry Johnathan Ball education centre. Tim and Johnathan are an important part of the town’s history.”

A Warrington council spokesperson are yet to confirm the name of the building but said they were

“in the early stages” of acquiring the site which will become a specialist SEND school.

He added: “We are working closely with the Peace Foundation and the NSPCC.”