ATROCITY HAS BROUGHT MEMORIES FLOODING BACK
Atrocity has brought the memories flooding back'
A HEARTBROKEN Ulster mother, whose son was killed in a landmine explosion eighteen years ago, today wept openly for the victims of the Omagh bombing.
Irene Cochrane's son Jim, a member of the UDR, was killed in a landmine explosion in 1980.
Mrs Cochrane said how she was moved to tears when she heard about the atrocity.
She also explained how it stirred up the memories of her son's death.
"The memories are all flooding back. My wounds will never heal in my heart.
"I was very sad as I watched the debris in Omagh on TV.
"A pregnant woman, teenagers, fathers brothers, wives, sisters and children are all dead.
"That hurts me. I know that to live, is to live in a pure hell."
Mrs Cochrane continued: "I couldn't eat my dinner today, all I could think about was all those people who sat down to lunch last Sunday, who were not sitting down to lunch today.
"Saturday brought it all home to me."
She also stressed that it was the people who had planted the bomb that were full of sectarian bigotry.
"If someone is lying injured and dying on a roadside, you do not think about what religion they are."
Mrs Cochrane also issued a direct message to the victims of the Omagh bombing, advising them on how to come to terms with the tragedy.
"I would tell them not to be bitter, to forgive them, as nobody will ever hurt their families like this again.
"But don't ask me to say that time heals - that would be a lie. Time never heals a broken heart.
"There are so many more people now with broken hearts and I will pray for them all."
A HEARTBROKEN Ulster mother, whose son was killed in a landmine explosion eighteen years ago, today wept openly for the victims of the Omagh bombing.
Irene Cochrane's son Jim, a member of the UDR, was killed in a landmine explosion in 1980.
Mrs Cochrane said how she was moved to tears when she heard about the atrocity.
She also explained how it stirred up the memories of her son's death.
"The memories are all flooding back. My wounds will never heal in my heart.
"I was very sad as I watched the debris in Omagh on TV.
"A pregnant woman, teenagers, fathers brothers, wives, sisters and children are all dead.
"That hurts me. I know that to live, is to live in a pure hell."
Mrs Cochrane continued: "I couldn't eat my dinner today, all I could think about was all those people who sat down to lunch last Sunday, who were not sitting down to lunch today.
"Saturday brought it all home to me."
She also stressed that it was the people who had planted the bomb that were full of sectarian bigotry.
"If someone is lying injured and dying on a roadside, you do not think about what religion they are."
Mrs Cochrane also issued a direct message to the victims of the Omagh bombing, advising them on how to come to terms with the tragedy.
"I would tell them not to be bitter, to forgive them, as nobody will ever hurt their families like this again.
"But don't ask me to say that time heals - that would be a lie. Time never heals a broken heart.
"There are so many more people now with broken hearts and I will pray for them all."
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0069
Published Date: 18-Aug-98
Related Images
