GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Gone, but not forgotten
By Peter McVerry
We have lost family members, rather than staff'
THE simple message on the bouquet of flowers outside Watterson's drapers in Omagh says so much.
"Gone but not forgotten - Anne, Geraldine and Veda."
Anne McCombe, Geraldine Breslin and Veda Short had been members of staff in the shop for a combined total of 40 years.
All three died together on Saturday afternoon.
Shop owner Tom Watterson today spoke of the devastation the bomb has caused to their business.
He said: "We feel we have lost members of our family rather than our staff.
"We all enjoyed each other's companies and worked side by side daily.
"We have lost a great team who worked and laughed together and tragically died together.
"Our thoughts are also with staff member Doreen Preston and her family as she lies in hospital."
Anne and Geraldine were best friends. Many would say their friendship crossed the religious divide.
But the people of Omagh are quick to point out there is no such thing as a religious divide in the town.
Independent councillor Paddy McGowan said: "Omagh is a town where you are judged on who you are not what you are. A good
person is a good person and an evil person is an evil person.
"God knows the people of Omagh are well aware or that."
Anne McCombe was married with two children, 18-year-old Colan and 22-year-old Clive.
Her best friend Geraldine Breslin died as she ran out of the shop only to take the full force of the blast.
She leaves behind a grieving husband Mark and teenage son Gareth.
She too will be remembered with affection by the local community.
Fr John Forbes said: "Geraldine was such a lovely woman, one of the best. Her loss, like everyone else's is nothing less than a tragedy."
The third member of staff killed in Saturday's horror was 46-year-old Veda Short.
A buyer in the hosiery and lingerie department, Veda was married to William with three sons, a daughter and a grandchild.
She had worked in Watterson's for over 20 years.
Floral tributes to all three are piled high outside the shop where so much of their lives was spent.
And a handwritten note taped to the closed-down shutters of the shop pays another simple but heartfelt tribute to the memory of all three.
It reads: "These premises will remain closed until after the funerals of our three highly respected and totally dedicated members of staff: Mrs Geraldine Breslin, Mrs Anne McCombe, Mrs Veda Short who died so tragically on Saturday 15 August 1998."
By Peter McVerry
We have lost family members, rather than staff'
THE simple message on the bouquet of flowers outside Watterson's drapers in Omagh says so much.
"Gone but not forgotten - Anne, Geraldine and Veda."
Anne McCombe, Geraldine Breslin and Veda Short had been members of staff in the shop for a combined total of 40 years.
All three died together on Saturday afternoon.
Shop owner Tom Watterson today spoke of the devastation the bomb has caused to their business.
He said: "We feel we have lost members of our family rather than our staff.
"We all enjoyed each other's companies and worked side by side daily.
"We have lost a great team who worked and laughed together and tragically died together.
"Our thoughts are also with staff member Doreen Preston and her family as she lies in hospital."
Anne and Geraldine were best friends. Many would say their friendship crossed the religious divide.
But the people of Omagh are quick to point out there is no such thing as a religious divide in the town.
Independent councillor Paddy McGowan said: "Omagh is a town where you are judged on who you are not what you are. A good
person is a good person and an evil person is an evil person.
"God knows the people of Omagh are well aware or that."
Anne McCombe was married with two children, 18-year-old Colan and 22-year-old Clive.
Her best friend Geraldine Breslin died as she ran out of the shop only to take the full force of the blast.
She leaves behind a grieving husband Mark and teenage son Gareth.
She too will be remembered with affection by the local community.
Fr John Forbes said: "Geraldine was such a lovely woman, one of the best. Her loss, like everyone else's is nothing less than a tragedy."
The third member of staff killed in Saturday's horror was 46-year-old Veda Short.
A buyer in the hosiery and lingerie department, Veda was married to William with three sons, a daughter and a grandchild.
She had worked in Watterson's for over 20 years.
Floral tributes to all three are piled high outside the shop where so much of their lives was spent.
And a handwritten note taped to the closed-down shutters of the shop pays another simple but heartfelt tribute to the memory of all three.
It reads: "These premises will remain closed until after the funerals of our three highly respected and totally dedicated members of staff: Mrs Geraldine Breslin, Mrs Anne McCombe, Mrs Veda Short who died so tragically on Saturday 15 August 1998."
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0121
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
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