IT was the day before Mothering Sunday in 1993. Colin and Wendy Parry sat in a hospital waiting room. A doctor entered, sat down, opened a brown envelope containing a St Christopher and a blood-stained watch strap, and asked for confirmation that they belonged to their 12-year-old son Tim.

The couple answered "Yes" and then the doctor spoke the words which Mr Parry said "cut through my heart and soul like a hot dagger". Their beautiful son was unlikely to make it through the night.

Tim actually managed to hang on for another few days before his life support machine was turned off, so becoming the second child victim of the IRA bomb attack in Warrington, toddler Johnathan Ball being the other.

This is the brutal, heart-breaking reality behind 30 years of murder in the name of a political struggle. Tim and Jonathan were just two of the 1,800 victims - 650 of them civilians - who have died during the terror campaign. Their parents are only two of the countless loved ones whose pain will not go away.

Last night, finally, the IRA leaders uttered a word which had never come from their lips before: "Sorry."

In an historic statement, the IRA apologised for the killing of all ''non-combatants'' who had died and offered its ''sincere apologies and condolences'' to the families of victims during 30 years of violence.

The statement, timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of an atrocity known as Bloody Friday, in which nine people died, did not stop there. It went on to acknowledge the grief and pain of the families of combatants - police, soldiers and paramilitaries - killed during the violence.

Of course, these are just words. But, potentially, they are hugely important words if they carry with them a sincere will to end the maiming and the killing.

For the many who find it impossible to forgive and forget, they will be words which inspire contempt. But this unprecedented declaration of regret must be seen as a significant part of the peace process which we pray will lead to the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.

If the parents of Tim Parry could find it in their hearts to respond to their unimaginable loss by campaigning for peace, so can we all.