THE President of Ireland paid a special visit to Warrington’s Peace Centre during a whirlwind tour of the region.

Mary McAleese made the trip after receiving an invitation from the charity’s founders, Colin and Wendy Parry.

She also brought good news with the announcement that the Irish Government is to award 75,000 Euros to the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace over three years.

The president singled out Colin and Wendy for their determination in setting up the foundation in honour of their 12-year-old son Tim and Johnathan Ball, who were killed by an IRA blast 15 years ago.

She said: “It is a place that means a lot to us because out of tragedy something good has come.”