A HOLYHEAD man who was caught up in an IRA bombing has condemned heartless thieves who stole a steel plaque in memory of two children who died in the attack.
Author Conrad Jones was rushed to the aid of Johnathan Ball, aged three, and 12-year-old Tim Parry, who were both killed by two bombs placed in litter bins on Bridge Street, Warrington in March 1993.
Mr Jones branded offenders who stole the plaque as “despicable, ” and said the crime had had “turned the stomachs” of residents.
He said: “The history of the town obviously means nothing to them at all.
“It’s nearly 20 years ago, but to the people in the town’s it’s almost like yesterday, so when something like that happens it’s a shock to everybody.”
The memories that terrible day are etched in Conrad’s mind.
He said: “It was the day before Mother’s Day so the town was predominently full of kids shopping with their fathers.
“It was a well thought-out plot.”
The blast from the bomb effectively turned the bin into a grenade, and tragically the youngters were in its path.
Conrad was manager of the McDonald’s restaurant, and he and two colleagues rushed to help those injured by the explosion.
He said: “We tried to help but there’s only so much you can do with a first aid box when you’re looking at bomb injuries, which were horrific.
“It was more like something you’d see in a war zone.”
Johnathan died before an ambulance could arrive, while Tim survived in hospital for around a week.
Conrad, who wrote the bestselling Soft Target series, added: “That event made me realise how ignorant I was about what was going on in Northern Ireland."
The author added he was sure that Cheshire Council would install a new memorial.
He said: “The bombing affected a lot of people in the town, and a plaque on the wall might be just a memorial to some, but to others it’s a lot more.”