OLD WOUNDS RE-OPENED AS HELPLINES KEEP BUSY
Old wounds re-opened as helplines keep busy
By Kathryn Torney
SUPPORT groups throughout ulster were flooded with calls over the weekend as the horror of Omagh led people to relive their own tragedies.
The blood-stained bodies, shattered buildings and cries for help revived horrific memories for many victims of violence.
The bomb triggered feelings of guilt, of how they could have done more, among the survivors of La Mon, McGurk's bar, the Abercorn and Shankill bombings.
The Shankill Stress and Trauma Group enlisted the help of extra staff to cope with the demand for a listening ear over the weekend.
One 91-year-old caller to its helpline said she would have given her life to spare one of the children killed in the Omagh blast.
Group director Mina Wardle said the bomb had led to victims revisiting the scene of their own particular horror.
"It caused a recall of their day - the date, time, what they were wearing," she said.
"And victims, being what they are, also wanted to know what they could do to help the people of Omagh.
"There were a lot of 'ifs', 'if onlys' and 'whys' from callers.
"Most of them related to the girl in the amateur video who was standing in the middle of the street, reeling around, not knowing what to do and to the moaning sound from people.
"Many felt guilty for surviving an atrocity while others died. There was also a lot of sadness over the death of the children in Omagh."
There were more than 80 calls to the helpline over the weekend, with many others expected.
Offers of help from business people and other practical support will be passed on to the people of Omagh.
"We feel totally inadequate and helpless at the moment but we are here for anyone who wants to talk," Mrs Wardle said.
The Shankill group plans to dispatch counsellors to Omagh when they are needed.
"It is not the right time now," she said.
"The community needs to get over the stunned period first and then accept the situation as reality."
The Shankill Stress and Trauma Group can be contacted on (01232) 205300/205305.
Help to ease the pain
SUPPORT GROUPS
Victim Support has issued a telephone number for anyone caught up in the bomb explosion in Omagh. The telephone number to ring is
(01365) 322475.
Shankill Stress and Trauma Group can be contacted on (01232) 205300 or 205305.
CRUSE - bereavement care, Omagh (01662) 244414 or Belfast (01232) 749944
Survivors of Trauma can be contacted on (01232) 749944
The Cross Group, run by individuals who have been bereaved over the years of the troubles - (01232) 483952.
WAVE - Trauma centre, for the bereaved. (01232) 779922.
By Kathryn Torney
SUPPORT groups throughout ulster were flooded with calls over the weekend as the horror of Omagh led people to relive their own tragedies.
The blood-stained bodies, shattered buildings and cries for help revived horrific memories for many victims of violence.
The bomb triggered feelings of guilt, of how they could have done more, among the survivors of La Mon, McGurk's bar, the Abercorn and Shankill bombings.
The Shankill Stress and Trauma Group enlisted the help of extra staff to cope with the demand for a listening ear over the weekend.
One 91-year-old caller to its helpline said she would have given her life to spare one of the children killed in the Omagh blast.
Group director Mina Wardle said the bomb had led to victims revisiting the scene of their own particular horror.
"It caused a recall of their day - the date, time, what they were wearing," she said.
"And victims, being what they are, also wanted to know what they could do to help the people of Omagh.
"There were a lot of 'ifs', 'if onlys' and 'whys' from callers.
"Most of them related to the girl in the amateur video who was standing in the middle of the street, reeling around, not knowing what to do and to the moaning sound from people.
"Many felt guilty for surviving an atrocity while others died. There was also a lot of sadness over the death of the children in Omagh."
There were more than 80 calls to the helpline over the weekend, with many others expected.
Offers of help from business people and other practical support will be passed on to the people of Omagh.
"We feel totally inadequate and helpless at the moment but we are here for anyone who wants to talk," Mrs Wardle said.
The Shankill group plans to dispatch counsellors to Omagh when they are needed.
"It is not the right time now," she said.
"The community needs to get over the stunned period first and then accept the situation as reality."
The Shankill Stress and Trauma Group can be contacted on (01232) 205300/205305.
Help to ease the pain
SUPPORT GROUPS
Victim Support has issued a telephone number for anyone caught up in the bomb explosion in Omagh. The telephone number to ring is
(01365) 322475.
Shankill Stress and Trauma Group can be contacted on (01232) 205300 or 205305.
CRUSE - bereavement care, Omagh (01662) 244414 or Belfast (01232) 749944
Survivors of Trauma can be contacted on (01232) 749944
The Cross Group, run by individuals who have been bereaved over the years of the troubles - (01232) 483952.
WAVE - Trauma centre, for the bereaved. (01232) 779922.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0068
Published Date: 18-Aug-98
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