BARKER FAMILY TO EXHUME SON'S REMAINS AND RETURN TO ENGLAND
Barker family to exhumes son's remains and return to England
A GRIEVING family -whose 12 year old boy was killed in the Omagh bomb are quitting Ireland for good and taking their son's body with them.
Victor and Donna Marie Barker lost their adored son, James in the 1998 bomb and their anguish since has touched the hearts of everyone.
The family left England to live in Donegal three years before the bomb 'believing the rural area would be a better and safer place to bring up their four children.'
It was tragically to be the biggest mistake they ever made.
James left his Buncrana home on the morning of the bomb to accompany his school friends on a trip to the Ulster American Folk Park near Omagh. He never returned.
Donna Marie said her young son was so excited about the trip and meeting his friends that he forgot to say goodbye.
Since the atrocity, the Barker family have been to the forefront in calling for the bombers to be caught, and they also initiated a court case against the government for compensation for school fees they had paid out. They did not win the case.
The family have decided to return to England where Victor still continues to practise law, and they plan to exhume their son's remains and bring him back home with them James is going back to where he belongs" said Donna-Marie.
Holy Saturday is the date when the family will perform the difficult task of taking James remains from the Buncrana graveyard and rebury them at a cemetery near their Surrey home in England.
Speaking of his family's on going ordeal, Victor Barker said "it's obviously a very personal thing, but is our intention to do this, my family will be moving back to England".
Mrs Barker said a private service will take place at the cemetery which will be her son's lasting resting place.
"At the time of the bomb we were in such a state shock we just went with the flow and we had no control but we do now."
"It was all too public, I mean I didn't even get a seat at my son's funeral and then I found myself sitting beside a stranger. It wasn't what we wanted".
"James will now be back where he belongs" she added.
A GRIEVING family -whose 12 year old boy was killed in the Omagh bomb are quitting Ireland for good and taking their son's body with them.
Victor and Donna Marie Barker lost their adored son, James in the 1998 bomb and their anguish since has touched the hearts of everyone.
The family left England to live in Donegal three years before the bomb 'believing the rural area would be a better and safer place to bring up their four children.'
It was tragically to be the biggest mistake they ever made.
James left his Buncrana home on the morning of the bomb to accompany his school friends on a trip to the Ulster American Folk Park near Omagh. He never returned.
Donna Marie said her young son was so excited about the trip and meeting his friends that he forgot to say goodbye.
Since the atrocity, the Barker family have been to the forefront in calling for the bombers to be caught, and they also initiated a court case against the government for compensation for school fees they had paid out. They did not win the case.
The family have decided to return to England where Victor still continues to practise law, and they plan to exhume their son's remains and bring him back home with them James is going back to where he belongs" said Donna-Marie.
Holy Saturday is the date when the family will perform the difficult task of taking James remains from the Buncrana graveyard and rebury them at a cemetery near their Surrey home in England.
Speaking of his family's on going ordeal, Victor Barker said "it's obviously a very personal thing, but is our intention to do this, my family will be moving back to England".
Mrs Barker said a private service will take place at the cemetery which will be her son's lasting resting place.
"At the time of the bomb we were in such a state shock we just went with the flow and we had no control but we do now."
"It was all too public, I mean I didn't even get a seat at my son's funeral and then I found myself sitting beside a stranger. It wasn't what we wanted".
"James will now be back where he belongs" she added.
Further Information
Publisher: ULSTER HERALD
Ref: UH/1341
Published Date: 13-Apr-00
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