LISTEN: Enniskillen bomb victims families vow to continue fight for justice

Q Radio News & Press Association

Relatives whose loved ones were killed in the Enniskillen bombing have vowed to keep their memories alive and continue fighting for justice, on the 30th anniversary of the atrocity.

The IRA bomb exploded without warning ahead of a Remembrance Sunday memorial ceremony on November 8 1987, in one of the most infamous incidents of the Northern Ireland Troubles.

Eleven people were killed and scores more were injured. A 12th victim died in December 2000 after spending 13 years in a coma due to injuries sustained in the attack.

The Poppy Day bomb ripped through the Co Fermanagh town while locals were attending a ceremony at the war memorial.

The device was planted in a building close to the memorial and when it detonated the walls collapsed on top of those who had gathered to pay respects to the war dead.

The actions of the bombers stood in stark contrast to the response of bereaved father Gordon Wilson, who made headlines around the world with his words of forgiveness for those who killed his daughter Marie, a 19-year-old student nurse.

Another innocent victim of the Troubles was killed the following day when loyalist paramilitaries sought to retaliate by shooting a Catholic in west Belfast. Due to mistaken identity, they killed a Protestant student, Adam Lambert.

No one has ever been held to account for the Enniskillen bombing.

Margaret Veitch - was a shop owner in Enniskillen - and her sister Joan Anderson, lived in the United States at the time of the bombing and is still there, but has returned for the anniversary.

Their parents William and Agnes Mullan were killed in the attack.

Joan has been speaking to Q Radio.

Margaret told us she feels no one cares anymore.

Meanwhile, Stephen Ross survived the atrocity.

He says his Christian faith has helped him immensely over the years to come to terms with what happened in the Enniskillen Bombing.

Aileen Quinton, whose mother Alberta was killed, said: "It's so hard to believe that it's been 30 years. There's just an unreality about it. At the time, it just felt too awful to be true and in many ways it still is. I'm no more used to it. It's still awful and it still matters."

Stella Robinson, whose mother and father Wesley and Bertha Armstrong died, said: "I think people born after the Troubles or after 1996 (the year of the IRA ceasefire), are not educated enough about what happened. I think they just want people to move on and they don't want to be reminded.

"But I just don't want this to be forgotten about. They were taken from us and I want people to know. I was very close to both my parents and they meant the world to me. I really miss them and I was robbed of 30 years of their life with me."

Victims' families and local representatives will attend a memorial unveiling on Wednesday at the site of the bombing.

Politicians and other dignitaries are expected to attend.

A memorial service will also be held at Enniskillen Presbyterian Church.

During a recent visit to Belfast, former US president Bill Clinton revealed that the Clinton Centre, a peace-building facility named in his honour and built on the site of the bombing, will receive a major investment towards its activities commemorating those who died.

Ten people were arrested in connection with the bombing but no charges were ever brought.

Detective Superintendent Ian Harrison, from the Police Service of Northern Ireland's Legacy Investigation Branch, said: "The Police Service of Northern Ireland remains committed to pursuing investigative options should they develop in the future."