TWENTY five years ago Warrington was united in grief after a senseless IRA attack unfolded in the heart of the town – an unthinkable act that shattered the hearts of so many people.

Moments before two bombs exploded on March 20, 1993, avid Everton fan Tim Parry had gathered his pocket money to buy the latest pair of football shorts while three-year-old Johnathan Ball was excitedly shopping for a Mother’s Day card.

There were no warning signs to predict the devastation that was about to ensue on Bridge Street.

These two young boys who had their lives ahead of them never returned home to their families who loved them dearly. 

More than two decades later, thousands of people gathered at the Manchester Arena on May 22, 2017, to watch popstar Ariana Grande perform her latest string of hits.

As revellers left the concert – many young children – a suicide bomber detonated an explosive in the foyer killing 22 people and injuring many more.

Coming to terms with the unbearable pain of losing a loved one in such tragic circumstances is almost impossible to comprehend.

Wendy Parry, who has experienced the heart-wrenching loss of a child, understands more than most how time is the biggest healer.

“You never ever get over it but you just learn to live with it,” said Wendy.

“It’s nice if you have a close family around to help you cope with times.

“You will get upset. It’s always difficult when you have to experience the first birthday without them, then the first Christmas and the first anniversary.

“It’s hard when you have those key moments when all the family should be together and they’re not there – it’s heart-breaking.

“You just have to remember the happy times and remember them alive rather than what they went through. Time is the biggest healer.”

The subsequent ripple effect and devastation caused by such a barbaric act is unfathomable.  

One year on from the Manchester Arena attack, Wendy wants to reassure those affected by the tragedy that there is help available for anyone who is struggling. 

 “We have been doing the work for 18 years now but people are more aware in the north west after what happened in Manchester,” said Wendy.

“The fact that so many people were injured made people stand up and listen.

“It made people start to think that ‘it could have been me’.

“It was about being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“What happened at the Manchester Arena affected us as family more than any other act of terroism that has happened here and abroad.

“It’s simply because it was young people going out to have a good time with friends and some didn’t come home - just like Tim.”

Within 24 hours of a suicide bomber detonating the explosive in the Manchester Arena, the Survivors Assistance Network (SAN) was already helping to support many of the victims left traumatised by the atrocity.

Hours after the attack, the programme, run by The Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace, had received its first plea for help.

Since then, the small team has dealt with 733 referrals of those in desperate need of support.

Terry O’Hara, SAN project manager, said: “I believe SAN is different as we recognise that terrorism can affect people in many different ways.

“While, rightly so, the bereaved and seriously injured are given the attention they need, we understand that people can be affected in other ways.

“At the concert 22 people were killed, many more were injured and thousands were caught up in what happened.

“The impact can be severe for people who weren’t injured.”

SAN was set up after the IRA attack in Warrington.

But the service, which provides free practical and emotional support to people affected by a terrorist attack, was on a much smaller scale back then.

The team is currently supporting people who have been affected by the IRA attacks in the 1980s and 1990s as well as people from London 7/7 and more recent attacks in Tunisia, Paris, Nice, Berlin and Manchester.

“It was a simple idea of taking young people from Warrington and the north and south of Ireland and showing them that they have more in common than they think,” said Terry, who has worked for the foundation, which is our charity of the year, for the past five years. 

“But over the years the focus has changed.”

Victims can access support from SAN via the telephone, email or through face-to face-visits.

Following a referral, a member of the team will be allocated to undertake an initial assessment and a mental health consultant will work in collaboration with SAN to provide specialist recommendations.

This will enable the team to develop a personalised care package. 

He added: “Some people when they have been affected by terrorism ask questions and want to know more about what happened and many want to do something positive.

“It’s called post-traumatic growth – it’s a recognised phenomenon. 

“For some people, a terrible trauma can be a stimulus for positive change in their lives.

“You are not condemned to get post-traumatic stress disorder.

“If you get the right support your chances of a healthy outcome are much improved.”

For more information call 581240 or email SAN@Foundation4peace.org.