Shankill bomb memorial unveiled on 30th anniversary

The clock is stopped at the moment the bomb exploded

Families of nine people killed in the 1993 Shankill bomb have unveiled a new memorial on the 30th anniversary.

The hands of the clock are stopped at 13:06, the time the bomb detonated at Frizzell's fish shop on the street in west Belfast in 1993.

Nine trees have also been planted in the garden beside West Kirk Presbyterian Church - marking the nine victims.

At the base of each tree is a plaque with a tribute from family members.

The maple leaf trees are described as a "living memorial" to the victims.

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Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson was among those who attended a service at West Kirk Presbyterian Church to mark the attack.

The ceremony followed a wreath-laying on Saturday which was attended by large numbers including DUP peer Lord Dodds.

On 23 October 1993 two IRA men, Thomas Begley and Sean Kelly, posed as fishmongers and carried the bomb into the shop where shoppers were queuing for food.

Begley was also killed.

The victims

The victims of the Shankill bombing included John Frizzell, 63, who owned the fish shop. His daughter Sharon McBride, 29, was helping her father and was also killed.

Michael 'Minnie' Morrison, 27, his partner Evelyn Baird, 27, and their daughter, Michelle, who was seven, also died. Their two other children were left parentless.

George Williamson, 63, and Gillian Williamson, 49, were out shopping when they were both killed in the blast, leaving behind two children.

Michelle Baird died alongside her parents. She was seven years old

Wilma McKee, 38, was walking past the shop when the bomb went off. She died a day later from her injuries.

Leanne Murray who was 13 years old was also killed.

Her mother, Gina, later realised that IRA bomber Sean Kelly had pleaded for her help after the explosion.

In a recent interview, when she was asked what she would say to Sean Kelly now if she saw him, she replied: "I don't think I would have words for him.

Leanne Murray, 13, was out shopping at the time of the explosion

"We will suffer until the day we die."

Dozens more were injured.

'It destroyed my family'

On Monday, Leanne Murray's brother Garry said the bombing had devastated his family.

"I always think about that day. Every day, every minute, it never leaves me," he said.

"It destroyed my family. It destroyed my mum, it destroyed myself for years.

"It is something I don't think we are ever going to get over."

He added: "Days like today are very important. I want all of the community to stand together and support us."

Rev David Clawson said the commemoration was an opportunity for everyone to stand in solidarity to remember the tragic events of 30 years ago.

Children from three schools left the church to lay floral tributes at the memorial lamp in the Shankill Memorial Park

"As that bomb exploded without warning on that sunny Saturday afternoon mayhem was visited upon this community," he said.

"Nine innocent people who were going about their daily business lost their lives and many others were injured.

"So we stop in the middle of our lives to take a moment to remember."

A number of survivors of the explosion and members of the emergency services who attended the scene were also at the memorial service, where an address was given by the moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Rev Sam Mawhinney.

Children from three schools, Harmony Primary School, Springfield Primary, and Belfast Girls' Model, left the church to lay floral tributes at the memorial lamp in the Shankill Memorial Park next to West Kirk.

The pupils were all grandchildren of Mr Morrison and his partner Ms Baird, who were both killed in the explosion, and nieces and nephews of Michelle, their daughter, who was also killed.

As a bell tolled nine times to remember the victims, a wreath was laid at the site of the new memorial at the exact time the bomb exploded.

Rev Clawson said: "I hope that these services give each of the victims' families comfort, even 30 years on, as we come together, with the whole community embracing them, both inside and outside of the church.