BLAIR. IT WIIL STAY WITH ME ALL MY LIFE
It will stay with me all my life': Blair
By Martina Purdy
PRIME Minister Tony Blair today told how memories of the Omagh bomb victims will haunt him forever.
Mr Blair reflected on how he would feel if one of his own children had sustained the injuries he witnessed in the Royal Victoria Hospital.
The Prime Minister, who has returned to his family on holiday in France, told The Irish News and Newsletter how his thoughts turned to his own children, Nicholas. Euan and Kathryn.
"I know I would go mad with grief should it happen to them." he said.
He went on: "What I saw in the Royal Victoria Hospital on Sunday night in Belfast will stay with me all my life."
"We sat together in a room - myself, the hospital staff, the families of the victims, talking between the tears.
"There was the couple whose daughter was just a mass of bandages, drugs, wires, only her mouth visible - her fiance, who she was to marry shortly, in the burns unit lighting for his life."
He wondered how anyone could have deliberately plotted to cause such carnage.
"Do they feel at all? Are they sitting there now in some place or other, with any shred of remorse, doubt, even pity?"
The Prime Minister blamed IRA dissidents for the attack and said RUG Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan shared his view.
By Martina Purdy
PRIME Minister Tony Blair today told how memories of the Omagh bomb victims will haunt him forever.
Mr Blair reflected on how he would feel if one of his own children had sustained the injuries he witnessed in the Royal Victoria Hospital.
The Prime Minister, who has returned to his family on holiday in France, told The Irish News and Newsletter how his thoughts turned to his own children, Nicholas. Euan and Kathryn.
"I know I would go mad with grief should it happen to them." he said.
He went on: "What I saw in the Royal Victoria Hospital on Sunday night in Belfast will stay with me all my life."
"We sat together in a room - myself, the hospital staff, the families of the victims, talking between the tears.
"There was the couple whose daughter was just a mass of bandages, drugs, wires, only her mouth visible - her fiance, who she was to marry shortly, in the burns unit lighting for his life."
He wondered how anyone could have deliberately plotted to cause such carnage.
"Do they feel at all? Are they sitting there now in some place or other, with any shred of remorse, doubt, even pity?"
The Prime Minister blamed IRA dissidents for the attack and said RUG Chief Constable Ronnie Flanagan shared his view.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0046
Published Date: 18-Aug-98
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