Day marking victims of terrorist attacks recognises 'my brother's life mattered'

The UK's first national day for victims and survivors of terrorism is being held in London on Friday where those affected by the violence of the Troubles will be in attendance.

The day aims to recognise people impacted by terrorism including victims and their families, witnesses and the emergency services, as well as raising awareness about specialist support.

For the rest of the UK, these could be terror attacks such as the London Bridge terror attack, the Manchester Arena attack in 2017 or the 7/7 bombings.

But in Northern Ireland, many will be remembering the atrocities of the Troubles, which lasted 30 years and cost the lives of more than 3,500 people.

The government said it introduced the national day for victims and survivors of terrorism following campaigning from victims and survivors for better recognition of their lived experiences.

Claire Hayes is part of a delegation from victims group the South East Fermanagh Foundation travelling from Northern Ireland to England on Friday.

She was 16 when her brother Alan Radford was killed in the Omagh bomb in 1998.

Twenty-nine people, including a woman who was pregnant with twins, were murdered in the Real IRA attack on 15 August 1998.

Hayes called for Stormont to do more to mark the remembrance of those killed in terrorist attacks in Northern Ireland, but said the UK-wide event is a "monumental day".

"It's been very welcomed that Alan is no longer just a statistic, that he is being recognised, that he was a human being, who was here, who was murdered and his life mattered," she told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster.

However, Hayes said has been campaigning for the commemoration to happen for years.

She said there are questions as to why Stormont and its own ministers have not provided them with a day to mark victims locally.

"They like to try and cleanse what has happened in Northern Ireland and I think this is going to be another pushing point for them that they really don't want to," Hayes said.

Hayes also called for more education in Northern Ireland schools about the impact terrorism has on victims.

Tanya Williams-Powell, who's grandfather was abducted and murdered by the IRA more than 50 years ago, said victims are the "most important" when it comes to remembering terrorist attacks.

Thomas Niedermayer was kidnapped from his home in west Belfast two days after Christmas in December 1973.

Powell told the Nolan Show that she felt there is often more interest into why the perpetrator commits a terrorist attack.

"It can almost be glorified. I think it's really important that we teach history honestly," said Williams-Powell.

"The victims are the most important and we need to make sure as much as we can that young people don't glorify it and continue the violence."

Speaking ahead of the first national day for victims and survivors of terrorism Secretary of State Chris Bryant said "few places have borne more pain than in Northern Ireland".

"I'm amazed and inspired by the fortitude and grace so many victims, survivors, and bereaved families have shown over the years, often suffering in silence," he said.

"As we stand with the victims and survivors of terrorism we commit ourselves anew to keep people safe and remember the past with honesty."

The chosen date for the national day of 21 August coincides with the UN International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, which began in 2017.

While the UK event will take place in London for its debut year, the Home Office has said people across the country can mark it at home by observing a moment of reflection and sharing posts about the day on social media.

My life was changed by a terror attack - now survivors like me won't be forgotten