The Prince of Wales met victims of paramilitary violence at a garden party in their honour at Hillsborough Castle, Co Down, yesterday. Those injured or bereaved by the security forces followed Sinn Fein's example and boycotted the event.
The party said it was not attending because of Prince Charles's role as colonel-in-chief of the Parachute Regiment.
Among the 2,000 guests were victims of the Omagh and Enniskillen bombs. Also present was Ms Rita Restorick whose son, Stephen, was the last British soldier to be killed by the Provisional IRA.
