Play About Shankill Bomb To Be Performed In Derry

Victims' campaigner implores groups still engaged in violence to attend

- Garrett Hargan

A play about a mother's grief after her daughter was murdered in the Shankill bomb is to be staged in Derry this week.

'What If...', written by Patricia Downey, tells the heart-breaking story of Gina Murray, who lost her 13-year-old daughter Leanne in the 1993 bomb.

Ten people were killed in the 1993 IRA attack, including one of the bombers, and more than 50 were injured.

The hour-long play, performed by the Spanner In The Works Theatre Company, follows the tragic story of a mother’s loss, as she and her son, Gary, struggle to cope. It demonstrates how her strength carried her to not only honour her daughter’s name but give hope to many for the future.

"What If..." was performed on the Shankill in October 2018 during the 25th anniversary of the Shankill bombing and had a profound impact on those that saw it.

Since then it has been the desire of those in the Shankill community who organized Shankill 25 that the play should be seen by a wider audience.

Earlier this year it was seen as significant when the play was performed at Féile an Phobail in Belfast which promotes Irish and international culture.