A public service has taken place to mark the 49th anniversary of the Coleraine bomb.
The event, led by the Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Councillor Ivor Wallace, and Reverend Donard Collins, Chairman of Coleraine Ministers’ Council, included a formal dedication of a new memorial stone which now marks of the spot of the explosion on Railway Road.
During the service, Reverend Collins read out the names of the six people who lost their lives in the atrocity.
The Mayor, Councillor Wallace said: “Today we gather around the bereaved family members and those injured to afford them their rightful place and show them the respect and support they deserve as we navigate this complex and emotive process.
“I want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank those who have played a part in this initiative – we recognise your ongoing hurt and pain and I hope that you can take some comfort from seeing this project progress.”
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council would like to thank Reverend Donard Collins from Killowen Parish Church for his role in the service, and Ivan Murdock and Sons who kindly gifted the memorial stone.
In 2018, a project was initiated through Council to ensure a permanent memorial was put in place to remember the atrocity, and the recent installation of the stone represents the first stage of this process.
The wider project includes the creation of a new sculpture at Coleraine Town Hall and an oral history project. This is due to be completed in 2023 in line with the 50th anniversary.
