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'Significant and poignant' milestone for family killed by IRA bomb

PA Media Three black and white photographed portraits sits side-by-side. On the left is a bald man in a black suit and white shirt. The middle photo is a woman with medium length brown hair, wearing a white dress. The woman on the right wears a dark-fur coat. She has medium length-curly brown hair.PA Media

Hundreds of people have gathered to remember the Herron family, 50 years after they were killed.

Willie Herron, his wife Beth, and their daughter Noeline died in their drapery shop following a bomb attack in Dromore in 1976.

All three were in their home above the shop when the building was destroyed.

They were remembered at a memorial parade, service of remembrance and wreath laying ceremony.

People gathered at the Orange Hall before making their way to the town centre.

They were told it was a "significant and poignant" milestone that no family should have to reach.

Ronnie Murdock, Deputy District Master of the Orange Order said the Herron's were the "heartbeat of this community " and their murders remain a scar on this town.

"This community still misses them."

He told the crowd William, Elizabeth and Noeline Herrons' names would be spoken by the next generation.

Wreaths were then placed on a wall outside where the bomb exploded in April 1976.

Members of the Herron family attended tonight's memorial alongside local political representatives including the deputy First Minister, Emma Little-Pengelly.

Willie and Beth's grandson, Michael Bingham said it is very important that memorials like this happen.

"After a terrible atrocity that can never be excused, terrorism that robbed us of a grandfather, grandmother and an auntie."

A church service will take place in the town on Sunday.

Little Pengelly said it was "incredibly important" to remember the events of 1976.

She said: "The Herron family were hugely loved and respected in the Dromore community and it was such an appalling act of violence."

"The sheer number of people demonstrates how highly regarded the family were held."

Michael is looking at the camera. He has grey hair. He is wearing a white shirt an red and navy tie. He is also wearing a navy coat.
Michael Bingham described the event as a "terrible memory" that he will never forget.

Michael described the event as a "terrible memory" that he will never forget.

Speaking to Good Morning Ulster he said that despite the anniversary being a "painful" day, the family will seek to "remember our grandparents and our auntie with reverence, pride and joy".

Bingham said he shares with his three sons "the tragic stories of our terrible Troubles, but specifically innocent victims murdered for no justifiable reason", adding that he hopes future generations can "all live in harmony and peace".

A man and two teenage sisters were jailed for the murders in 1981.

The women were released in 1985 after being given Royal Prerogatives of Mercy, which is used to grant a pardon to somebody or to reduce their sentence.

It was used more frequently to shorten sentences before the set-up in 1997 of the Criminal Cases Review Commission, which provided a statutory means for appeals to be considered.

The Northern Ireland Office said the Royal Prerogative of Mercy has been used in the past on compassionate grounds or in exchange for co-operation with the authorities to help bring others to justice.