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Commemoration for Shankill bomber held in Belfast

Hundreds of people gathered at Milltown Cemetery in Belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the Shankill bomb
Hundreds of people gathered at Milltown Cemetery in Belfast to mark the 25th anniversary of the Shankill bomb

A commemoration for Shankill bomber Thomas Begley has been held in Belfast.

The memorial event has been strongly criticised by relatives of the nine bomb victims who earlier this week gathered to remember their loved ones.

Sinn Féin members attended the tribute at Belfast's Milltown Cemetery.

Begley died, along with nine victims, after the bomb he was carrying exploded prematurely when he entered a fish shop on the Shankill Road in October 1993.

Fellow bomber Sean Kelly, who was badly injured in the blast, addressed the crowd of around 200, as did Sinn Féin councillor Seanna Walsh. Members of Begley's family attended the memorial.

Earlier this week, hundreds of people from across the communities of Northern Ireland came together for a church service to mark the 25th anniversary of the bomb.

People gathered to remember the nine victims, including two young girls, who were killed when the IRA bomb detonated inside Frizzell's fish shop.

Mr Walsh told those gathered there could be "no hierarchy of victims" as he paid tribute to Begley.

He said: "Everyone has a right to remember their dead."

Kelly kissed a memorial to Begley after laying a wreath.

Addressing the crowds, Kelly said his friend was a "highly respected" member of the IRA.

He said the commemoration was not a "glorification".

"I am truly sorry for the loss of life and injuries suffered on that day," he added.

He said the motives for the attack had been "misrepresented".