City Council links with Warrington

At a reception last Friday at Warrington, Lisburn Mayor William Leathem signed a Fostering Better Relations declaration that will forge closer links between Lisburn and Warrington councils.

The Lisburn Mayor attended a reception on Friday and then a service the following day to mark the 20th anniversary of the Warrington Bomb that injured 54 people and killed two boys Tim Parry (12) and Johnathan Ball (3).

Other councillors that attended included councillor Thomas Beckett, Alderman Paul Porter and councillor Pat Catney.

The link was created following years of work between Crewe United and Warrington Town FC.

Crewe United, with the support of Lisburn Council, initiated the ‘Torch of Hope’ project to promote a more positive image of Northern Ireland through the medium of sport.

A group of young people from Lisburn, representative of all the sections of the community, took the Torch initially around Ireland, then on throughout Britain and eventually to America and Canada.

The Warrington association with the help of Crewe United and Lisburn Council is now stronger than ever and in 2009 ‘The Peace Cup’ was inaugurated – an annual game between Crewe and Warrington Town FC, with the aim to offer some financial support to the Peace Centre in Warrington,

At the weekend Mr Leathem met with the Parry family and Johnathan Ball’s relatives.

When invited to attend the Warrington Commemorative Service on Saturday, March 16, he was asked to address those attending.

The Mayor said: “May I pay tribute to the people of Warrington on their determination and resolve over the past 20 years, arising from this atrocity.”

The Mayor added: “The Council’s involvement and the efforts of Crewe United Football Club, in the aftermath of the atrocity, inspired the ‘Torch of Hope’ and fostered our bond between Warrington and Lisburn City. I am very pleased about that and we continue to foster communications and friendship between these two places.”

He continued: “This event is an important milestone as we not only commemorate the atrocity of 20 years ago but also show to the world our commitment to work together for a peaceful society for all.”