Council move on after memorial theft

COUNCIL chiefs at Warrington have decided to remove a mystery note which appeared next to the newly-restored memorial plaque to the Bridge Street bombings.
But it will go on show next year as part of a special exhibition marking the 20th anniversary of the atrocity.
The note appeared shortly after the plaque was replaced, following its recovery following its theft earlier this year.
Headed: “To the scum who stole the plaque from this place” it read: “I find solace knowing you never must have had a family who lived with honour and grace.
“And when you pass there will be no tributes, no respects paid and you will not be remembered for you are not of humankind, you are nothing.”
Deputy leader of the council Mike Hannon (pictured) said: “The sentiment of this note justifies to us that it was the right thing to do to return the plaque to its original place within the River of Life memorial in Bridge Street.
“The theft provoked strong feelings within Warrington, as this note demonstrates. It also shows just how the events of that day in 1993 and the River of Life memorial still resonate so strongly within our community.
“Now that the plaque is back in place, we feel it is right to move on from this and have therefore decided to take the note down. That said, we are going to include it in an art exhibition that will form part of the special commemorative event planned for March 2013 to mark the 20th anniversary of the Warrington bombing.”
More details about the commemorative event will be made available nearer the time.
The plaque disappeared from its place in Bridge Street earlier this year but was recovered later from the home of a Penketh man who had picked it up after another man, from Newton-le-Willows had admitted taking it while on a drinking spree.
Both men subsequently apologised for their acts when they appeared at a restorative justice conference where they met Colin and Wendy Parry, parents of Tim Parry, one of the boys who died in bombings.