MY OMAGH BOMB SON HAS COME HOME
My Omagh bomb son has come home
By Jillie Beattie
THE mother of schoolboy bomb victim James Barker took him home yesterday.
His body was taken from his grave in Buncrana, Co Donegal, 20 months after he died in the Omagh blast.
Now Donna Marie Barker is preparing to bury her son for the second time near his old school in Weybridge, England.
The body of James, 12, was exhumed before dawn.
Donna Maria said: "When James was removed from his 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.
"This morning when James' coffin was brought to the surface I felt very happy for him because it is the first step in him going home."
Last night his coffin, draped in the St George flag and surrounded by teddy bears, sat in the living room of the family home in Buncrana.
Earlier the town came to standstill as the hearse, bearing James, made its way from Cockhill Cemetery to the Barker home.
Donna Maria said: "Ireland had James for 18 months; now he's going home."
By Jillie Beattie
THE mother of schoolboy bomb victim James Barker took him home yesterday.
His body was taken from his grave in Buncrana, Co Donegal, 20 months after he died in the Omagh blast.
Now Donna Marie Barker is preparing to bury her son for the second time near his old school in Weybridge, England.
The body of James, 12, was exhumed before dawn.
Donna Maria said: "When James was removed from his 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.
"This morning when James' coffin was brought to the surface I felt very happy for him because it is the first step in him going home."
Last night his coffin, draped in the St George flag and surrounded by teddy bears, sat in the living room of the family home in Buncrana.
Earlier the town came to standstill as the hearse, bearing James, made its way from Cockhill Cemetery to the Barker home.
Donna Maria said: "Ireland had James for 18 months; now he's going home."
Further Information
Publisher: THE MIRROR
Ref: TM/104
Published Date: 21-Apr-00
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.