BITTERNESS IS A DREADFUL BURDEN TO CARRY
Bitterness is a dreadful burden to carry'
THE terror and tragedy of the Omagh bomb has revived horrible memories for the injured and bereaved of previous Ulster atrocities. Kathryn Torney, Suzanne Rodgers and Jennifer Doherty spoke to some of those victims.
NOREEN Hill, whose husband is still in a coma 11 years after the Enniskillen bomb, today urged the victims of the Omagh massacre not to be bitter. Ronnie Hill, a former headmaster, was seriously injured in the bombing on Remembrance Day in the town. His wife now cares for him in the residential home she bought in Holywood.
The Hills lived in Omagh for five years when Ronnie taught in Omagh County and Noreen fears that some of the dead may even be former pupils.
"Most of the people involved in Omagh will be stunned at the moment. They will just be walking about, not thinking," she said.
"The only thing that really matters to them is those who have been injured or killed.
"I would advise them not to have any hatred or bitterness because that is what harms the individuals themselves.
"It is a dreadful burden to have to carry," she said.
"At the moment there will be a lot of people around to help them, talk to them and do everything for them.
"It's when it dies down that they will need family and friends to be there when they want to talk."
Noreen said her family provided important support after the Enniskillen bombing.
"They were with me all the time, I was never left on my own. That is what the people of Omagh need," she said.
She said the weekend's events brought back memories of 11 years ago.
"I lived the Enniskillen bomb through the Shankill Road bombing and I did the same on Saturday," she said.
"I feel so sorry and my heart goes out to the people of Omagh.
"I don't know why someone would do something like this. The parents of the children who died will never know how they would have grown up. It's appalling.
"You have to be able to forgive those who caused the bomb, but that doesn't mean you don't want them to be punished.
"Just leave it with God and let him deal with it. Don't waste energy on the bombers which is needed for those injured and bereaved."
THE terror and tragedy of the Omagh bomb has revived horrible memories for the injured and bereaved of previous Ulster atrocities. Kathryn Torney, Suzanne Rodgers and Jennifer Doherty spoke to some of those victims.
NOREEN Hill, whose husband is still in a coma 11 years after the Enniskillen bomb, today urged the victims of the Omagh massacre not to be bitter. Ronnie Hill, a former headmaster, was seriously injured in the bombing on Remembrance Day in the town. His wife now cares for him in the residential home she bought in Holywood.
The Hills lived in Omagh for five years when Ronnie taught in Omagh County and Noreen fears that some of the dead may even be former pupils.
"Most of the people involved in Omagh will be stunned at the moment. They will just be walking about, not thinking," she said.
"The only thing that really matters to them is those who have been injured or killed.
"I would advise them not to have any hatred or bitterness because that is what harms the individuals themselves.
"It is a dreadful burden to have to carry," she said.
"At the moment there will be a lot of people around to help them, talk to them and do everything for them.
"It's when it dies down that they will need family and friends to be there when they want to talk."
Noreen said her family provided important support after the Enniskillen bombing.
"They were with me all the time, I was never left on my own. That is what the people of Omagh need," she said.
She said the weekend's events brought back memories of 11 years ago.
"I lived the Enniskillen bomb through the Shankill Road bombing and I did the same on Saturday," she said.
"I feel so sorry and my heart goes out to the people of Omagh.
"I don't know why someone would do something like this. The parents of the children who died will never know how they would have grown up. It's appalling.
"You have to be able to forgive those who caused the bomb, but that doesn't mean you don't want them to be punished.
"Just leave it with God and let him deal with it. Don't waste energy on the bombers which is needed for those injured and bereaved."
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0067
Published Date: 18-Aug-98
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