THE FINAL JOURNEY HOME FOR TRAGIC OMAGH BOMBING VICTIM JAMES
The final journey home for tragic Omagh bomb victim James
By JILLY BEATTIE
GRIEVING MUM EXHUMES SON, 12, TO BE NEAR FAMILY
SCHOOLBOY James Barker, who was killed in the Omagh bomb two years ago, began his final journey home yesterday.
The 12-year-old's coffin was exhumed from Cockhill Chapel cemetery at 7am yesterday and taken to the family home at Ned's in the Buncrana hills, Co Donegal.
Then his mother Donna Maria, calm in her grief, set a teddy by James's coffin as it was placed in a hearse for the two-hour journey to Aldergrove Airport, Co Antrim.
Tomorrow, his family will go through the heartache of burying him again in a private ceremony in Weybridge, Surrey.
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 removed I felt very happy for him because it is the first step in him going home.
"It has been a very difficult decision, but now James has started on the first step of his long journey home."
The Barker family moved to Buncrana in September 1997.
Ten months later James was killed in the Real IRA bombing of Omagh in which 28 other people died, including two unborn babies. James had been shopping in the town centre when he was killed in the blast.
Yesterday, Donna Maria explained her decision to have James' body exhumed and returned to their Weybridge home where her husband still lives.
She said: "It's all part of having our family reunited. Ireland had James for 18 months, now he's going home.
"James loved it here in Buncrana, he was very happy here.
"I still see him every night in the living room as he leans over the banister from the kitchen.
"I still hear him asking me, do I want a cup of coffee."
Donna Maria was yesterday supported by her sister Kimberly Doe and her aunt Maria Mullan throughout the traumatic day. Her youngest son Oliver was also by her side.
James' father Victor, who has a legal practice in Surrey, remained at the family's Weybridge home where his son's body will be re-buried on Saturday.
James' grave will be in the grounds of St George's prep-school, Weybridge, where he had been a pupil.
Yesterday, as his coffin sat in the family's home in Buncrana before starting the journey across the border to the North, Donna Maria told of the loss the family has endured.
She said: "It has been very difficult. His sister Estella still takes one of James' shirts to bed with her at night. Sometimes she takes his dictionary."
They are some comfort to 15-year-old Estella, who can only sleep when she has something of James' in her arms for comfort.
The normally bustling market town of Buncrana was quiet as local people waited in silence for James' coffin to wind its way through the narrow streets.
Seven hours earlier it had been removed from its grave in the Cockhill cemetery during a private ceremony away from the eyes of friends and neighbours.
When his coffin was taken to the house where he had lived so happily, it was positioned under a large portrait of James before being draped with the flag of St George.
In recent months the Barker family have expressed their upset that their son's body had lain beside a number of republican graves.
And their decision to exhume his body was finally taken after a plaque marking the IRA men was put up just yards from James' grave.
Local man Kieran Ceaniann said yesterday: "It's a powerful shame that any mother should have to bury a son. To have to do it twice is just heartbreaking."
Mr Ceaniann, 36, stood in silence with his head bowed as the coffin drove through Buncrana High Street at 2.15pm.
He said: "Some people were shocked to hear about the exhumation.
"I think everybody feels sorry that the Barkers have had to do this. The people of Buncrana do not support what the IRA did - not at all.
"But we understand that if the family are moving back to England, they'll want James to be with them.
"Like every other family who have suffered a tragedy, they'll want a graveside to visit and know that they are near where their loved one rests in peace.
"It's very sad that this had to happen in the first place.
"The Barkers said they came to Ireland to bring their children up in safety. It's a shame and a disgrace what has happened to them."
James will be buried tomorrow morning in the grounds of his preparatory school, St George's at Weybridge, just a couple of miles from his family home in England.
It is not known yet when Donna Maria plans to join her husband Victor in England permanently.
Victor Barker, who spends his working week in Surrey, but returns to Donegal at weekends, has spent the last 18 months trying to gather evidence on the bombers.
He even approached the BBC to do a special investigation to track down and name the bombers.
Donna Marie said: "We know who did this to James. We have their names, just like the police have.
"We will never rest, for James' sake, until they are put away for what they did.
"We owe him that much.
"It doesn't look like anyone will ever be prosecuted for Omagh, but I don't think that they should be allowed to get away with it.
"He was our wonderful boy and it is the least we can do for him."
Victor has persuaded Bertie Ahern to launch a public appeal to help catch the Real IRA terrorists.
The Taoiseach will make the appeal to mark the second anniversary of the massacre in August.
Mr Ahern hopes the move will help police on both sides of the border gather the final pieces of evidence they need to jail the killers.
Officers have said they know who planned and carried out the atrocity, but admitted vital pieces of evidence to secure the convictions are still missing.
Mr Barker said the appeal was prompted by the refusal last week of Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams to provide assistance to the RUC in gathering information on the bombers.
However, Mr Adams did break with republican tradition and condemned the bomb attack.
Mr Barker is hoping Mr Adams will be encouraged to follow his words of condemnation with practical assistance.
By JILLY BEATTIE
GRIEVING MUM EXHUMES SON, 12, TO BE NEAR FAMILY
SCHOOLBOY James Barker, who was killed in the Omagh bomb two years ago, began his final journey home yesterday.
The 12-year-old's coffin was exhumed from Cockhill Chapel cemetery at 7am yesterday and taken to the family home at Ned's in the Buncrana hills, Co Donegal.
Then his mother Donna Maria, calm in her grief, set a teddy by James's coffin as it was placed in a hearse for the two-hour journey to Aldergrove Airport, Co Antrim.
Tomorrow, his family will go through the heartache of burying him again in a private ceremony in Weybridge, Surrey.
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 removed I felt very happy for him because it is the first step in him going home.
"It has been a very difficult decision, but now James has started on the first step of his long journey home."
The Barker family moved to Buncrana in September 1997.
Ten months later James was killed in the Real IRA bombing of Omagh in which 28 other people died, including two unborn babies. James had been shopping in the town centre when he was killed in the blast.
Yesterday, Donna Maria explained her decision to have James' body exhumed and returned to their Weybridge home where her husband still lives.
She said: "It's all part of having our family reunited. Ireland had James for 18 months, now he's going home.
"James loved it here in Buncrana, he was very happy here.
"I still see him every night in the living room as he leans over the banister from the kitchen.
"I still hear him asking me, do I want a cup of coffee."
Donna Maria was yesterday supported by her sister Kimberly Doe and her aunt Maria Mullan throughout the traumatic day. Her youngest son Oliver was also by her side.
James' father Victor, who has a legal practice in Surrey, remained at the family's Weybridge home where his son's body will be re-buried on Saturday.
James' grave will be in the grounds of St George's prep-school, Weybridge, where he had been a pupil.
Yesterday, as his coffin sat in the family's home in Buncrana before starting the journey across the border to the North, Donna Maria told of the loss the family has endured.
She said: "It has been very difficult. His sister Estella still takes one of James' shirts to bed with her at night. Sometimes she takes his dictionary."
They are some comfort to 15-year-old Estella, who can only sleep when she has something of James' in her arms for comfort.
The normally bustling market town of Buncrana was quiet as local people waited in silence for James' coffin to wind its way through the narrow streets.
Seven hours earlier it had been removed from its grave in the Cockhill cemetery during a private ceremony away from the eyes of friends and neighbours.
When his coffin was taken to the house where he had lived so happily, it was positioned under a large portrait of James before being draped with the flag of St George.
In recent months the Barker family have expressed their upset that their son's body had lain beside a number of republican graves.
And their decision to exhume his body was finally taken after a plaque marking the IRA men was put up just yards from James' grave.
Local man Kieran Ceaniann said yesterday: "It's a powerful shame that any mother should have to bury a son. To have to do it twice is just heartbreaking."
Mr Ceaniann, 36, stood in silence with his head bowed as the coffin drove through Buncrana High Street at 2.15pm.
He said: "Some people were shocked to hear about the exhumation.
"I think everybody feels sorry that the Barkers have had to do this. The people of Buncrana do not support what the IRA did - not at all.
"But we understand that if the family are moving back to England, they'll want James to be with them.
"Like every other family who have suffered a tragedy, they'll want a graveside to visit and know that they are near where their loved one rests in peace.
"It's very sad that this had to happen in the first place.
"The Barkers said they came to Ireland to bring their children up in safety. It's a shame and a disgrace what has happened to them."
James will be buried tomorrow morning in the grounds of his preparatory school, St George's at Weybridge, just a couple of miles from his family home in England.
It is not known yet when Donna Maria plans to join her husband Victor in England permanently.
Victor Barker, who spends his working week in Surrey, but returns to Donegal at weekends, has spent the last 18 months trying to gather evidence on the bombers.
He even approached the BBC to do a special investigation to track down and name the bombers.
Donna Marie said: "We know who did this to James. We have their names, just like the police have.
"We will never rest, for James' sake, until they are put away for what they did.
"We owe him that much.
"It doesn't look like anyone will ever be prosecuted for Omagh, but I don't think that they should be allowed to get away with it.
"He was our wonderful boy and it is the least we can do for him."
Victor has persuaded Bertie Ahern to launch a public appeal to help catch the Real IRA terrorists.
The Taoiseach will make the appeal to mark the second anniversary of the massacre in August.
Mr Ahern hopes the move will help police on both sides of the border gather the final pieces of evidence they need to jail the killers.
Officers have said they know who planned and carried out the atrocity, but admitted vital pieces of evidence to secure the convictions are still missing.
Mr Barker said the appeal was prompted by the refusal last week of Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams to provide assistance to the RUC in gathering information on the bombers.
However, Mr Adams did break with republican tradition and condemned the bomb attack.
Mr Barker is hoping Mr Adams will be encouraged to follow his words of condemnation with practical assistance.
Further Information
Publisher: THE MIRROR
Ref: TM/105
Published Date: 21-Apr-00
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.