YOUNG BOMB VICTIM REBURIED IN ENGLAND
Young bomb victim reburied in England
By Linda McKee
THE remains of a young boy killed in the Omagh bomb were reburied in England last Saturday after being exhumed from a grave in Co Donegal.
The parents of James Barker removed his body from the cemetery in Buncrana because republicans were planning to hold Easter, Rising commemorations at the site, where several IRA members are buried.
James's remains were re-interred at the Priests Graveyard at his former school, St George's College, Weybridge, Surrey.
The 12-year-old was on a school trip to Omagh when he was caught in the Real IRA bomb attack in Market Street on August 15, 1998, which killed 29 people and two unborn babies.
His mother, Donna-Marie Barker, said she knew she had done the right thing when she saw the coffin emerging from the grave where it had lain for 18 months.
She said she was certain her son was going to "a happier place" now.
As the coffin was lifted from the Donegal grave early in the morning, Mrs Barker draped it in the flag of St George.
James's body was then taken in a hearse, containing his favourite teddies, to Belfast Airport and flown to England on Thursday.
His father, Victor Barker, has spent the past 18 months trying to gather evidence on who those carried out the Omagh atrocity, and even approached the BBC to do a special investigation which would track down and name the killers.
His wife told RTE radio that she had written to Sinn Fein president, Gerry Adams asking him to take action and had not received a positive response.
She said that, while she had greatly enjoyed living in Ireland, they had decided to move back to England so the family could be together.
Mr Barker said they had moved their son's remains because the IRA would be holding Easter Rising commemorations all over Ireland, including the graveyard where James was buried.
He said: "In the light of the refusal from Gerry Adams, we found it unbearable to think that republicans would be honouring their dead close to James's grave, when they will not help find evidence against the bombers, and when everyone seems to know who they are."
The RUC has announced another review of the police investigation into the Omagh bomb. Although police know the identities of those concerned, they are no closer to being able to press charges.
More than 2,000 people have been interviewed and 3,000 statements have been taken, but only one man has been charged in connection with the atrocity.
Mrs Barker said: "We find it difficult to be in Ireland. We thought by now they would have got someone, but that's politics.
"I am very angry. I have been angry from the start. But Victor and I will keep on the fight in England."
The Barkers took the painful decision to move back to England after hearing of two weekend killings on the radio.
Mrs Barker said: "I thought Omagh would have been the turning point. I thought that if by taking James's life it would bring peace to this lovely country and to such lovely people, then his death would not have been in vain.
"But hearing the news from that weekend was enough for me. I couldn't take any more. I finally couldn't take any more.
"It was then that we decided it was time to take him home to England where he belongs to his rightful place," Mrs Barker said.
The family had moved to Donegal 11 months before the bomb attack hoping to give their children a better quality of life and improve their personal safety.
Recent Real IRA attacks on Army bases in Northern Ireland convinced the couple that their children would be safer in England.
Mrs Barker said: "I don't think there will ever be peace in this beautiful country. I don't think these groups really want peace.
Sorry
"I just feel so sorry for the children who are growing up here. I don't think people realise how awful it is to lose a life, and that of somebody close to them.
"Life is too short. Life is too precious. It is precious and should be cherished.
"James was first into the operating theatre that day. He lived for three-quarters of an hour as the doctors fought to save them. We owe it to him to keep fighting for justice," she said.
A few months after James's death, the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, visited the family and told them he hoped they would continue to live in the Republic.
Last year, Mr Barker unsuccessfully tried to recover more than �40,000 spent on James's education, under the 1988 Criminal Injuries Compensation Order.
He said the court action was to "highlight the differences in the way victims are treated compared to murderers".
After the trial, Mrs Barker appealed for anyone with information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of the Omagh bombers to contact the RUC or Garda.
"They should be in prison now so that they are not free to commit any further barbaric deeds," Mrs Barker said.
By Linda McKee
THE remains of a young boy killed in the Omagh bomb were reburied in England last Saturday after being exhumed from a grave in Co Donegal.
The parents of James Barker removed his body from the cemetery in Buncrana because republicans were planning to hold Easter, Rising commemorations at the site, where several IRA members are buried.
James's remains were re-interred at the Priests Graveyard at his former school, St George's College, Weybridge, Surrey.
The 12-year-old was on a school trip to Omagh when he was caught in the Real IRA bomb attack in Market Street on August 15, 1998, which killed 29 people and two unborn babies.
His mother, Donna-Marie Barker, said she knew she had done the right thing when she saw the coffin emerging from the grave where it had lain for 18 months.
She said she was certain her son was going to "a happier place" now.
As the coffin was lifted from the Donegal grave early in the morning, Mrs Barker draped it in the flag of St George.
James's body was then taken in a hearse, containing his favourite teddies, to Belfast Airport and flown to England on Thursday.
His father, Victor Barker, has spent the past 18 months trying to gather evidence on who those carried out the Omagh atrocity, and even approached the BBC to do a special investigation which would track down and name the killers.
His wife told RTE radio that she had written to Sinn Fein president, Gerry Adams asking him to take action and had not received a positive response.
She said that, while she had greatly enjoyed living in Ireland, they had decided to move back to England so the family could be together.
Mr Barker said they had moved their son's remains because the IRA would be holding Easter Rising commemorations all over Ireland, including the graveyard where James was buried.
He said: "In the light of the refusal from Gerry Adams, we found it unbearable to think that republicans would be honouring their dead close to James's grave, when they will not help find evidence against the bombers, and when everyone seems to know who they are."
The RUC has announced another review of the police investigation into the Omagh bomb. Although police know the identities of those concerned, they are no closer to being able to press charges.
More than 2,000 people have been interviewed and 3,000 statements have been taken, but only one man has been charged in connection with the atrocity.
Mrs Barker said: "We find it difficult to be in Ireland. We thought by now they would have got someone, but that's politics.
"I am very angry. I have been angry from the start. But Victor and I will keep on the fight in England."
The Barkers took the painful decision to move back to England after hearing of two weekend killings on the radio.
Mrs Barker said: "I thought Omagh would have been the turning point. I thought that if by taking James's life it would bring peace to this lovely country and to such lovely people, then his death would not have been in vain.
"But hearing the news from that weekend was enough for me. I couldn't take any more. I finally couldn't take any more.
"It was then that we decided it was time to take him home to England where he belongs to his rightful place," Mrs Barker said.
The family had moved to Donegal 11 months before the bomb attack hoping to give their children a better quality of life and improve their personal safety.
Recent Real IRA attacks on Army bases in Northern Ireland convinced the couple that their children would be safer in England.
Mrs Barker said: "I don't think there will ever be peace in this beautiful country. I don't think these groups really want peace.
Sorry
"I just feel so sorry for the children who are growing up here. I don't think people realise how awful it is to lose a life, and that of somebody close to them.
"Life is too short. Life is too precious. It is precious and should be cherished.
"James was first into the operating theatre that day. He lived for three-quarters of an hour as the doctors fought to save them. We owe it to him to keep fighting for justice," she said.
A few months after James's death, the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, visited the family and told them he hoped they would continue to live in the Republic.
Last year, Mr Barker unsuccessfully tried to recover more than �40,000 spent on James's education, under the 1988 Criminal Injuries Compensation Order.
He said the court action was to "highlight the differences in the way victims are treated compared to murderers".
After the trial, Mrs Barker appealed for anyone with information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of the Omagh bombers to contact the RUC or Garda.
"They should be in prison now so that they are not free to commit any further barbaric deeds," Mrs Barker said.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1446
Published Date: 27-Apr-00
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