THE mother of Bali bomb victim Ian Findley has spoken of the six-months of torment she has endured grieving for her eldest son.

It was six months ago last Saturday when two explosions ripped through the Kuta Beach tourist resort on the Indonesian island. Almost 200 people were killed including 89 Australian and 26 British tourist. Many others suffered serious shrapnel wounds when they were caught in the bombing at the Sari nightclub.

Among the dead was 55-year-old Ian Findley, a panel beater who was on holiday with friends Ian Stafford and Kevin McVittie. Both were injured in the explosion.

Mr Findley, of West Pelton, a divorced father with a grown-up daughter, Amanda, ran a small garage in Craghead.

Mr Findley's sister, Carolyn Rutherford, and brother, Brian Findley, travelled to Bali after the blast to find out more information and to try toget his body repatriated to Britain.

They flew back to England with his body on Sunday, October 27.

His funeral was at Chester-le-Street parish church last November and 14 members of the Findley family travelled to Southwark Cathedral in London in February to attend a memorial service for all the British Bali victims.

Mr Findley's mother, 82-year-old Loraine, of Grange Villa, said the six-months since the tragedy had been the worst time in her life.

She said: "It never stops hurting. You think of it everyday. There's always something that comes up to remind you of it."

An inquest in to the British deaths, scheduled to start last Friday, was cancelled.

Mrs Findley said: "The inquest was the latest upset, and now we are just waiting for a letter in the next week or two to let us know the new date. I just keep thinking: 'Why did it happen, why did it have to be him?

"You don't expect one of your sons to go before you. You look at the bodies coming back from Iraq and I just feel so sorry for the mothers and fathers."

The anniversary was marked with a wreath-laying ceremony at the site, attended by Balinese dignitaries, foreign consuls and diplomats.

Islamic group Jemaah Islamiyah, with alleged links to Al Qaida, is suspected of carrying out the bombings.

The first of 36 suspects are expected to go on trial at the end of the month.