A Bangor woman whose teenage daughter was killed in the Shankill bombing has been remembered as “a force of nature” who never stopped campaigning for justice.
Gina Murray’s only daughter Leanne (13) was among ten people killed by an IRA bomb which exploded prematurely in Frizzell’s Fish shop on October 23, 1993.
Ms Murray became a committed campaigner for justice in the years afterwards, with many praising her courage following her death on Thursday.
The staff at Kilcooley Women’s Centre said they were “beyond devastated” by the loss.
“Gina was a force of nature, who dedicated over 15 years to the work of KWC,” they said.
“She was instrumental in the programmes to support older women and was a tireless campaigner for victims of violence and for women in the area.
“She will be most remembered for her unending campaign for justice for her beloved daughter Leanne who was murdered in the Shankill bombing at the age of 13.
“Gina never got over this terrible loss, and the comfort is that she is now at peace, with Leanne. Our thoughts are with (her son) Gary and the family for their loss.”
The former DUP leader Arlene Foster commented: “I met with Gina many times and despite the pain and suffering she endured or maybe because of it, she was a great advocate for women through her work with Kilcooley Women’s group in Bangor.
“Deepest sympathy to her beloved son Gary and her wide circle of friends.”
The DUP’s North Down MLA, Stephen Dunne, said: “Gina Murray was a remarkable lady, who campaigned so passionately for justice for many years for her daughter Leanne, who was so cruelly murdered in the Shankill Bomb aged just 13.
“Gina was loved by many in Bangor, where she lived for many years and will be greatly missed by her many friends.”
Speaking in 2018 to mark the 25th anniversary of the Shankill atrocity, Ms Murray told the BBC how she had unwittingly encountered one of the injured IRA bombers (Sean Kelly) at the scene before learning her daughter was dead.
“There was a very loud explosion, I run out and that’s where I saw a man laying on the ground,” she said.
“And he had blood on the side of his face. He said ‘help me,’ and I think the shock of seeing him and not knowing where Leanne was.
“I just stood there and then he said again ‘help me.’
“As I said that a second time somebody came up and said to me ‘are you injured,’ I said ‘no, but my daughter’s in the shop.’
“And he then got help for the fella that was laying on the ground. He turned out to be the bomber.”
Asked at the time what she would say to Kelly, she answered: “I don’t think I’d have words for him, to be honest. We will suffer till the day we die.”
A tribute from Alan McBride - ‘It was with tremendous sadness that I learned of the passing of Gina Murray.
— WAVE Trauma Centre (@WAVETrauma) October 4, 2024
Gina was a dear friend for many many years when tragedy brought us together in the wake of the Shankill Bomb.
She was an incredible woman, humble and kind and with an… pic.twitter.com/slPbVSrLXL
