Father recalls the tragic loss of his son in the Omagh bombing, detailing the profound impact and ongoing pursuit of justice.
Her brother James went to Omagh instead of her. James Barker was twelve years old when he died. The Real IRA committed the awful act in 1998. James grew up in England, his dad said.
His mom wanted to move back to Ireland. Her parents had moved to Buncrana in Donegal. Mr. Barker stayed in England. He said his son loved life in Ireland.
James missed his father, though. Mr. Barker visited them in Donegal in August 1998. His daughter planned to visit Omagh on Saturday. She felt unwell and wanted to stay home. James asked if he could go in her place.
“That was the last time I saw my son,” his father said. The Good Friday Agreement signaled peace for Northern Ireland. Everyone felt hopeful at last. His wife wanted to give their kids a good life. James would start school in Belfast that September.
Everything seemed to fall into place. James had a bright future ahead of him that morning. Family time is precious and important to everyone. The day destroyed everything forever.
Mr. Barker went out for dinner. He heard about a bad accident in Omagh. He did not know it was a bomb at first. Later, a priest told him to go to Omagh.
At the Omagh Leisure Centre, they asked about marks on James. This was shared during the sad inquiry. They took him to an Army barracks overnight.
It served as a temporary morgue for the victims. That was a grim place to be. Mr. Barker said he then knew James had not survived. They then needed him to identify his son’s body. He had to see his dead child.
He said those moments haunt him the most. He described the next few hours as absolute hell. It was something one could never forget. Mr. Barker also identified another body.
It was a brother of a Spanish exchange student. The student stayed with the family. They told their daughter the awful news. She was heartbroken and incredibly sad. His daughter feels awful guilt to this day. She thinks she should have been there, not James. The helplessness feels real even now.
He picked up a newspaper the following day. A picture of James was on the front page. It showed him being carried on a stretcher. Mr. Barker recalled saying, “Look what they’ve done!” He broke down upon seeing his son that way. He just could not handle it at all.
James’ funeral in Buncrana had a huge public presence. It felt almost like a state funeral for the poor boy. So many people attended. Mr. Barker said the family had no privacy then. He felt a total lack of control. He found their loss almost unbearable.
He later moved James’ remains to England. He just wanted his little boy closer. Mr. Barker said James was outgoing and kind. James had a bright future. He cared for others and loved life.
Mr. Barker continues to have dark moments. The sadness and pain never truly leave. He did all he could to seek justice for James.
The police investigation was poorly done, though. He thinks the police chief failed them greatly. The civil case affected many families. Terrorists took James’s life, his father explained. He said James was robbed of his future. He wondered if terrorists have more rights than James ever did.
Mr. Barker said pain has no borders. But human love also feels the same across countries. He really hopes people remember that.