OMAGH VICTIM ON HIS FINAL JOURNEY
Omagh victim on his final journey
By Smyth Harper
SCHOOLBOY bomb victim James Barker will tomorrow finally be laid to rest - 18 months after the 12-year-old died with 28 others in the Omagh bomb.
His body was removed from a grave in the Cockhill Chapel Cemetery, Buncrana, early yesterday and returned to the family's Buncrana home.
Later the coffin, draped in the flag of St George, was taken to Belfast International Airport to be flown to back to England.
Tomorrow his parents Donna Marie and Victor will go through the heartache of burying their son again.
James' body will be buried in the grounds of St George's preparatory school - the school he attended before moving to Ireland - on the eve of St George's Day. "It's all part of having our family reunited. Ireland had James for 18 months, now he's going home," said Mrs Barker.
"James loved it here in Buncrana - he was very happy here.
"I can see him every night in the living room as he leans over the banister from the kitchen and asking me if I want a cup of coffee."
The Barkers have been very public in their grief and have appealed to the Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern to do all they can to catch the killers.
James' father Victor has persuaded Bertie Ahern to launch a public appeal to catch the terrorists-nearly two years after the bomb.
A similar plea to Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams was not so successful.
Despite condemning the bomb Mr Adams has refused to provide assistance to the RUC or the Garda in gathering information on the bombers.
But yesterday it was a time for the family. Donna Marie described the moving scenes when her son's body was taken from his Buncrana grave.
She said: "When James was removed from the grave I was very calm.
"When I saw the lid of his coffin I went down and touched it and I felt very much at peace. When James' coffin was removed I felt very happy for him because it was his first step in him going home. "It has been a very difficult decision but now James has started his long journey home."
By Smyth Harper
SCHOOLBOY bomb victim James Barker will tomorrow finally be laid to rest - 18 months after the 12-year-old died with 28 others in the Omagh bomb.
His body was removed from a grave in the Cockhill Chapel Cemetery, Buncrana, early yesterday and returned to the family's Buncrana home.
Later the coffin, draped in the flag of St George, was taken to Belfast International Airport to be flown to back to England.
Tomorrow his parents Donna Marie and Victor will go through the heartache of burying their son again.
James' body will be buried in the grounds of St George's preparatory school - the school he attended before moving to Ireland - on the eve of St George's Day. "It's all part of having our family reunited. Ireland had James for 18 months, now he's going home," said Mrs Barker.
"James loved it here in Buncrana - he was very happy here.
"I can see him every night in the living room as he leans over the banister from the kitchen and asking me if I want a cup of coffee."
The Barkers have been very public in their grief and have appealed to the Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern to do all they can to catch the killers.
James' father Victor has persuaded Bertie Ahern to launch a public appeal to catch the terrorists-nearly two years after the bomb.
A similar plea to Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams was not so successful.
Despite condemning the bomb Mr Adams has refused to provide assistance to the RUC or the Garda in gathering information on the bombers.
But yesterday it was a time for the family. Donna Marie described the moving scenes when her son's body was taken from his Buncrana grave.
She said: "When James was removed from the grave I was very calm.
"When I saw the lid of his coffin I went down and touched it and I felt very much at peace. When James' coffin was removed I felt very happy for him because it was his first step in him going home. "It has been a very difficult decision but now James has started his long journey home."
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0738
Published Date: 21-Apr-00
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