MOTHER SAYS ORANGEMEN ARE BIGOTED
Mother says Orangemen are bigoted
By Valerie Robinson
Threat to Trimble over Omagh funeral
A MOTHER has accused orangemen of bigotry after they threatened to discipline David Trimble because he attended her son's funeral in the wake of the Omagh bomb.
Donna Marie Barker was speaking last night just days after discovering Christmas presents for son James which had been hidden during the summer.
She was furious when she learned that the Ulster Unionist leader, and party chairman Denis Rogan were facing censure from the Orange Order for attending Catholic funerals in Co Donegal.
The men were among politicians who were at the funerals of James Barker (12), Oran Doherty (8) and Sean McLaughlin (11) at St Mary's church in Buncrana.
The three youngsters had been on a trip to Omagh with a group of Spanish students when they were killed in the bomb attack on August 15.
Speaking at her Buncrana home, Mrs Barker last night said the Orange Order's intention to discipline the two politicians was "absolutely scandalous".
And she called on orangemen to look towards the new millennium with greater acceptance for other cultures.
"It's time to stop all the bitterness and hatred on both sides. Let's go forward, let's not go back."
Mrs Barker described her horror at hearing about the orangemen's plans four months after the Omagh bombs victims were laid to rest.
"I can't believe they're actually bringing this up after four months. It's totally scandalous.
"I can't bring my son back who's been dead for four months."
The grieving mother who is struggling to cope for the sake of her two surviving children said violence in Derry last weekend after the Apprentice Boys march had brought back painful memories.
"I was totally flabbergasted by the violence what happened.
"You were being confronted by both sides. You could feel the hatred.
"It's so, so petty now what's happening to these two guys [David Trimble and Denis Rogan].
"I feel now that my son's life's been taken and he died in vain."
She said that in the wake of the Omagh atrocity "there was all talk with people saying let's get peace".
"But after all that's happened since it's obvious that's total rubbish."
Mrs Barker added that the Orange Order "must be a very bitter order.
"Why can't they let us alone. I don't think it's ever going to end."
But she hoped that "In the new year there can be peace between the two sides".
Buncrana district council chairman Jim Ferry last night said the threatened action against Mr Trimble and Mr Rogan exposed "the sectarian nature of the Orange Order".
The Sinn Fein representative said the first minister had attended the funeral mass in Buncrana "just as a Christian".
"He came to pay tribute to the children."
But he added that the current row among orangemen "must be a lesson to David Trimble on the nature of the order".
And he warned that people in the Co Donegal town would be "very angry".
"David Trimble was applauded here. I feel very angry that any organisation would condemn men for coming to pay tribute to the children who were killed."
And local priest Father Joseph Carolan said the news had "shown up the Orange Order in a very poor light".
"They're only keep alive the bigotry and hatred that led to the bomb in the first place".
By Valerie Robinson
Threat to Trimble over Omagh funeral
A MOTHER has accused orangemen of bigotry after they threatened to discipline David Trimble because he attended her son's funeral in the wake of the Omagh bomb.
Donna Marie Barker was speaking last night just days after discovering Christmas presents for son James which had been hidden during the summer.
She was furious when she learned that the Ulster Unionist leader, and party chairman Denis Rogan were facing censure from the Orange Order for attending Catholic funerals in Co Donegal.
The men were among politicians who were at the funerals of James Barker (12), Oran Doherty (8) and Sean McLaughlin (11) at St Mary's church in Buncrana.
The three youngsters had been on a trip to Omagh with a group of Spanish students when they were killed in the bomb attack on August 15.
Speaking at her Buncrana home, Mrs Barker last night said the Orange Order's intention to discipline the two politicians was "absolutely scandalous".
And she called on orangemen to look towards the new millennium with greater acceptance for other cultures.
"It's time to stop all the bitterness and hatred on both sides. Let's go forward, let's not go back."
Mrs Barker described her horror at hearing about the orangemen's plans four months after the Omagh bombs victims were laid to rest.
"I can't believe they're actually bringing this up after four months. It's totally scandalous.
"I can't bring my son back who's been dead for four months."
The grieving mother who is struggling to cope for the sake of her two surviving children said violence in Derry last weekend after the Apprentice Boys march had brought back painful memories.
"I was totally flabbergasted by the violence what happened.
"You were being confronted by both sides. You could feel the hatred.
"It's so, so petty now what's happening to these two guys [David Trimble and Denis Rogan].
"I feel now that my son's life's been taken and he died in vain."
She said that in the wake of the Omagh atrocity "there was all talk with people saying let's get peace".
"But after all that's happened since it's obvious that's total rubbish."
Mrs Barker added that the Orange Order "must be a very bitter order.
"Why can't they let us alone. I don't think it's ever going to end."
But she hoped that "In the new year there can be peace between the two sides".
Buncrana district council chairman Jim Ferry last night said the threatened action against Mr Trimble and Mr Rogan exposed "the sectarian nature of the Orange Order".
The Sinn Fein representative said the first minister had attended the funeral mass in Buncrana "just as a Christian".
"He came to pay tribute to the children."
But he added that the current row among orangemen "must be a lesson to David Trimble on the nature of the order".
And he warned that people in the Co Donegal town would be "very angry".
"David Trimble was applauded here. I feel very angry that any organisation would condemn men for coming to pay tribute to the children who were killed."
And local priest Father Joseph Carolan said the news had "shown up the Orange Order in a very poor light".
"They're only keep alive the bigotry and hatred that led to the bomb in the first place".
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0252
Published Date: 18-Dec-98
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