Familiar sense of anxiety grips those who remember Troubles

The mood in Londonderry yesterday mirrored the weather - dark and miserable.

Most of the shops and businesses on the city's Bishop Street - the scene of Saturday night's car bomb - opened for business but the area was distinctly quieter than usual.

The warped and mangled wreckage of the car that dissident republicans blew up still lay outside the windows of the hotels, cafes and bars along the city centre street, perhaps sparking an unease in those who would normally frequent the area on a Monday morning.

Outside the nearby Richmond Shopping Centre, people were feeling pangs of anxiety not experienced since the days of the Troubles. Joseph Carlin (33) said Saturday night's incident has brought back long forgotten tension and fear in many people.

"Last night, on my way home from an evening with friends, I observed a car parked irregularly alongside a local business," he said. "On Friday I would have thought nothing of it. There were lights on at the front and the rear, but no one near and no lights on in the business or nearby homes.

"Then the thought and the fear entered my head. So I crossed the road and I started to run.

"I got home and I called the police. Told them what had unfolded. I knew it was very imaginative, but then again I knew that people on Bishop Street on Saturday night wouldn't have imagined that to happen. People are fearful."

A Waterside mother, who did not wished to be named, said she had had an uncomfortable conversation with her teenage son with regards to the incident.

"I never thought I'd have to tell my son to be careful of suspicious cars," she said.

"To take another route if passing the courthouse or police station in case someone attacks it. He, thankfully, has no idea about the Troubles, but this is bringing it into his life. His friends are all talking about it, and they are worried too.

"I was brought up in the Troubles and what happened at the weekend has brought back that horrible, anxious feeling that settled in all of us during those times. I haven't felt it for a long while and I didn't miss it, to be honest. It's there again now, though, and it's horrible."

Business leaders in the city centre were yesterday trying to pick themselves up and dust themselves off. Londonderry Chamber of Commerce President Brian McGrath said businesses had already begun the fightback and urged Northern Ireland's politicians to get back to work and fill the vacuum that has been created in Northern Ireland.

"The fightback started on Saturday night," he said.

"There has been a lot of ringing around among traders and positive messages about how to dust off and get up and running. We are looking for elected members to put some sort of political context back in a vacuum and continue on the really good work that is happening around Derry-Londonderry and the region in terms of its commercial wellbeing.

"If I were to speak directly to our politicians on either side, I would urge them not to let political dogma get in the way of doing the best thing for your citizens. Traders are here trying to increase prosperity for everyone around here, whatever political slant you have. So our message is to get around the table and get it sorted out. Get back into government."

Belfast Telegraph