BODY OF BABY COVERED BY BLANKET
Body of baby covered by blanket
By Mandi Millar
Ex-firefighter tells of despair at bloodbath scene
AN OMAGH councillor has told how he reached for a blanket to cover a corpse at the bomb scene only to discover a baby's body wrapped in it.
Independent representative Paddy Magowan said the "battlefield' scenes were the worst he had ever seen, despite having attended some of the province's most appalling atrocities as a member of the Fire Service during the 1970s.
The 61-year-old - who was awarded the MBE for his service as a sub-officer in the aftermath of the Ballygawley bomb - was just 200 yards from Saturday's explosion.
"I was driving along when I heard a massive bang - I thought it was my own car at first and I got out to see if my legs were still working," said Mr 'Magowan, now a manager with Ulsterbus in Omagh.
"I then realised what had happened and ran to the site of the bomb. It was a battlefield - the slaughter of the innocent.
"All I could see were bodies sitting or lying. There were children crying, looking for parents, and parents looking for children."
Mr Magowan said that, despite his Fire Service training, he barely knew where to begin to help.
"I was running past some people who didn't look too badly injured and stopping with others, only to leave them when I saw someone even worse," he said.
Then Mr Magowan flagged down three Ulsterbuses and asked the drivers to ferry the walking wounded to hospital, freeing up ambulances for the badly hurt.
"I'm sure I must know 99% of the dead - some of my closest friends are among them," he said.
"There were others I didn't even recognise at the time - maybe it was a mercy."
The councillor described how he and those who were able to help salvaged anything they could - doors and shop fittings on which to carry the injured or blankets and sheets to cover the dead.
"At one stage I reached for a blanket to put over a body but as I did someone shouted to leave it. There was already a baby wrapped up in it," he said.
Although he attended numerous terrorist incidents in the 1970s, Mr Magowan said he was particularly shocked at the sight of so many civilian casualties.
"The one thing you never get used to seeing is a dead child."
However, despite the harrowing task they faced, Mr Magowan praised the efforts of those who helped in the rescue operation.
"I had more experience than most in dealing with something like this but the ordinary people were brilliant - no-one ran away. Everyone seemed to gather an inner strength," he said.
And it was that strength, said the councillor, which would help the people of Omagh to get through the next few days and months.
"The people of Omagh will rise from the ashes. It will take a long time, though. The 15th of August is a date we will never forget - that's for definite," Mr Magowan added.
By Mandi Millar
Ex-firefighter tells of despair at bloodbath scene
AN OMAGH councillor has told how he reached for a blanket to cover a corpse at the bomb scene only to discover a baby's body wrapped in it.
Independent representative Paddy Magowan said the "battlefield' scenes were the worst he had ever seen, despite having attended some of the province's most appalling atrocities as a member of the Fire Service during the 1970s.
The 61-year-old - who was awarded the MBE for his service as a sub-officer in the aftermath of the Ballygawley bomb - was just 200 yards from Saturday's explosion.
"I was driving along when I heard a massive bang - I thought it was my own car at first and I got out to see if my legs were still working," said Mr 'Magowan, now a manager with Ulsterbus in Omagh.
"I then realised what had happened and ran to the site of the bomb. It was a battlefield - the slaughter of the innocent.
"All I could see were bodies sitting or lying. There were children crying, looking for parents, and parents looking for children."
Mr Magowan said that, despite his Fire Service training, he barely knew where to begin to help.
"I was running past some people who didn't look too badly injured and stopping with others, only to leave them when I saw someone even worse," he said.
Then Mr Magowan flagged down three Ulsterbuses and asked the drivers to ferry the walking wounded to hospital, freeing up ambulances for the badly hurt.
"I'm sure I must know 99% of the dead - some of my closest friends are among them," he said.
"There were others I didn't even recognise at the time - maybe it was a mercy."
The councillor described how he and those who were able to help salvaged anything they could - doors and shop fittings on which to carry the injured or blankets and sheets to cover the dead.
"At one stage I reached for a blanket to put over a body but as I did someone shouted to leave it. There was already a baby wrapped up in it," he said.
Although he attended numerous terrorist incidents in the 1970s, Mr Magowan said he was particularly shocked at the sight of so many civilian casualties.
"The one thing you never get used to seeing is a dead child."
However, despite the harrowing task they faced, Mr Magowan praised the efforts of those who helped in the rescue operation.
"I had more experience than most in dealing with something like this but the ordinary people were brilliant - no-one ran away. Everyone seemed to gather an inner strength," he said.
And it was that strength, said the councillor, which would help the people of Omagh to get through the next few days and months.
"The people of Omagh will rise from the ashes. It will take a long time, though. The 15th of August is a date we will never forget - that's for definite," Mr Magowan added.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0060
Published Date: 18-Aug-98
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