20 years after the IRA’s unilateral cessation, Colin Parry inspires reconciliation

THE IRA killed Colin Parry’s young son, Tim, in Warrington in 1993.

Despite his terrible loss, Colin Parry has courageously said: “Seeking personal justice may not always sit well with the search for peace. You may have to set aside your own goals for the greater good.”

Such generosity of spirit and humanity is remarkable. 

Not all victims or survivors share Colin Parry’s outlook. They do not seek the same things or speak with one voice.

Colin Parry exemplifies that remarkable human quality, synonymous with Nelson Mandela, of reaching out to make friends with past enemies.

This Thursday night, Colin will participate in a West Belfast Féile discussion with Martin McGuinness. They will speak about the challenges of peace building, reconciliation and healing.

It is a significant discussion, especially to think that at this very time 20 years ago, enormous political energy was being secretly channelled towards developing a framework, which persuaded the IRA to announce a unilateral cessation of its armed struggle.

As a result, the Peace Process slowly took root and the Good Friday Agreement emerged.

Colin and Wendy Parry with Martin McGuinness at the Warrington Peace Centre

The next phase of work for politics and society here is to develop an authentic reconciliation process.

This Féile discussion makes a vital contribution to building the critical mass and providing the public discourse which supports that.

By their actions, Colin and Martin have given great inspiration.

Others, like Reverend David Latimer, are undertaking pioneering work with hundreds of schools and children across the North through the ‘Pathways to Peace’ initiative.

Leadership is being shown by other civic and community leaders in challenging sectarianism, segregation, racism and division among our people.

Sinn Féin has been saying that having 'Uncomfortable Conversations' with each other are key to reconciliation and that dealing with the past will require both compromise and challenge.

There was a time when private and even secret engagement was needed to bring about peace. Those days are gone.

Reconciliation requires public and inclusive engagement — big gestures, clear words and actions, leadership and vision.

An extremist minority is opposed to the rest of us working together to design a shared future.

They can only succeed if the greater majority remain passive and silent.

Twenty years ago, risks were taken by some to bring about the embryonic Peace Process. Now it is time for many to stand up and speak out fearlessly, with confidence and vision, for reconciliation.

That is what the next generation deserves from all sections of political and civic leadership.