OUR FAMILY WILL RETURN TO IRELAND
Our family will return to Ireland'
Spanish dad in peace vow
By Staff Reporter
THE father of the Spanish boy killed in Omagh has pledged to defy the terrorists by sending his other children on summer courses in Ireland.
Manuel Blasco's son Fernando (12) was on a summer English language course, based in Buncrana, when he was murdered.
His sister Lucrecia, who was injured in the blast, has been allowed home from hospital.
Mr Blasco, who was caught up in a terrorist car bomb blast in Spain six years ago, said: "These terrible things can happen anywhere."
Speaking from his home in Madrid after Fernando's funeral earlier this week, he added: "For that reason we have decided to continue to send our other five children to Ireland in the summer, as we have been doing for the last few years."
Mr Blasco said Lucrecia would need more operations.
"She is recovering, but the bomb burst both her eardrums and she will have to have operations to try to recover her lost hearing."
And he said it was no consolation that the Real IRA said it had not intended to kill anyone.
"The only consolation for us was the help and kindness we have received throughout from the Irish and Spanish authorities and the staff at the hospitals," he said.
He said he had no criticism of the language centre or of the day trip to Omagh.
Fernando was staying with James Barker (12), who was also killed in the outrage.
"Our hearts are with that family," Mr Blasco said. "They too have lost a very young son".
Mr Blasco also told how he suffered head injuries in the ETA car bomb blast on a main Madrid street in June 1992.
"I was on my way to work when the bomb was detonated as a Spanish Navy coach was being driven by.
"I suffered head injuries. They were not too serious, but I will never forget."
A devout Catholic family, the grandmother, also named Lucrecia, said: "Fernando was such a lovely boy that the Virgin wanted to take him."
Spanish dad in peace vow
By Staff Reporter
THE father of the Spanish boy killed in Omagh has pledged to defy the terrorists by sending his other children on summer courses in Ireland.
Manuel Blasco's son Fernando (12) was on a summer English language course, based in Buncrana, when he was murdered.
His sister Lucrecia, who was injured in the blast, has been allowed home from hospital.
Mr Blasco, who was caught up in a terrorist car bomb blast in Spain six years ago, said: "These terrible things can happen anywhere."
Speaking from his home in Madrid after Fernando's funeral earlier this week, he added: "For that reason we have decided to continue to send our other five children to Ireland in the summer, as we have been doing for the last few years."
Mr Blasco said Lucrecia would need more operations.
"She is recovering, but the bomb burst both her eardrums and she will have to have operations to try to recover her lost hearing."
And he said it was no consolation that the Real IRA said it had not intended to kill anyone.
"The only consolation for us was the help and kindness we have received throughout from the Irish and Spanish authorities and the staff at the hospitals," he said.
He said he had no criticism of the language centre or of the day trip to Omagh.
Fernando was staying with James Barker (12), who was also killed in the outrage.
"Our hearts are with that family," Mr Blasco said. "They too have lost a very young son".
Mr Blasco also told how he suffered head injuries in the ETA car bomb blast on a main Madrid street in June 1992.
"I was on my way to work when the bomb was detonated as a Spanish Navy coach was being driven by.
"I suffered head injuries. They were not too serious, but I will never forget."
A devout Catholic family, the grandmother, also named Lucrecia, said: "Fernando was such a lovely boy that the Virgin wanted to take him."
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0148
Published Date: 21-Aug-98
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