THOUSANDS ASK WHY 28 PEOPLE HAD TO DIE?
Thousands ask WHY 28 people had to die?
By Kathryn Torney
ONE simple message ran through the sympathy messages in the books of condolence for the Omagh victims - the heartfelt question "Why?"
Tens of thousands of people across the province have signed their names and written poignant notes in the condolence books.
All were moved by the death of 28 people, the injuries to more than 200 and the devastation caused to the market town.
The books were opened by councils to allow people to express their sympathy - and their anger.
And condolences have also been coming in from all over the world.
The BELFAST TELEGRAPH'S Internet site book of condolences took 4,000 messages from all over the globe in just two days.
Sympathy for the people of Omagh came from Brazil. Australia. Canada and America.
BELFAST City Hall has seen a steady flow of people sending messages.
The signing of their eight books was exceptionally busy following the 15-minute vigil in the city centre for the victims of the bomb on Tuesday.
The council expect to have almost l0,000 signatures by the time the books close at 7pm tonight.
At LONDONDERRY'S Guildhall the strength of feeling could be seen early this week by the queues of people waiting to sign the book.
Among the names were messages from a nurse at Altnagelvin Hospital and others were written by visitors from New Zealand and America who were touched by the tragedy.
A spokesman said there were almost 2,000 signatures by Thursday.
Six books of condolences were opened by FERMANAGH District council in the town hall. Irvinestown. Lisnaskea. Roslea, Kesh and Belleek.
ARDS Borough Council has set up 13 books across the pensinsula.
A spokeswoman said: "We opened the first one in the council offices and then decided to distribute them more widely.
"There has been a steady stream of people signing them and offering their sympathies."
CRAIGAVON Borough Council has books in the civic centre and also in Portadown and Lurgan town halls.
A spokeswoman said: "We wanted to show our sympathy to the people of Omagh and it was unanimously decided at a council meeting to open the books."
ARMAGH City and District Council said some people wrote poems in their book.
Staff reported that hundreds of people had added their names to the book.
Sean Henry, public relations officer with MAGHERAFELT District Council. said it had been getting large numbers signing its book.
WHAT YOU WROTE ...
OMAGH
"WHY?"
"Words cannot express the sadness. Such tragic loss of life. You are all in our thoughts and prayers and will be remembered always."
"Let this be the end."
"What a waste."
"This tragedy has opened our hearts and eyes."
"We have all suffered enough - time for peace."
"Our prayers and thoughts are with all who suffered and died."
"Words cannot express the pain felt by all."
ARDS
"This should never have happened."
"Thinking of my neighbours in Omagh." - from a former resident of Castlederg.
"Peace. What peace?"
"Words fail. I had two of my children in Omagh. It could have happened to them. Please God let the bitter winds die now and build something worthwhile in all their memories."
"You are in our thoughts as you suffer."
"You are in our thoughts and prayers."
"Never forgotten."
DERRY
"May they rest in eternal peace in the Knowledge that there is no place in heaven for evil men."
"Why! Lord Why?"
I'm so sorry. Dear God please stop this madness."
"Twenty-eight innocents, dear God why? Rest in peace."
"This must stop now. Nothing is worth this." - nurse from Altnagelvin Hospital.
"There's pain, sorrow, anger for the people of Omagh but stubborn hope for peace."
"I am so sorry. As a mother and grandmother I feel for you."
CRAIGAVON
"Those who have lost understand."
"Shame on those who did this!"
"What a waste of life. So very sad."
"Why? '
"Where's the peace?"
"So cruel."
"Unbelievable."
"Let this be the last of the slaughter."
ARMAGH
"I am very sad." - an eight-year-old girl.
"May God bless you and keep you until we follow you."
"I think of you all every time I look at my family."
"An unneeded tragedy - God bless them."
"May their souls rest in peace. God forgive the murderers. Please let this be the end, we've all had more than enough heartache."
"Slaughter of the innocent."
"Children slain, so much pain, so where's the gain? Where is the love, the white peace dove, our constant faith in God above? While mothers weep, their little ones sleep, the Lord to keep." - in memory of Omagh.
MAGHERAFELT
"I'll always have them in my thoughts."
"A mindless massacre, so much suffering and pain, no logical reason, for what justified gain?"
"Such a tragic loss - deepest sympathies."
"Dead without a cause. God bless."
"Total madness."
"My deepest sympathy to all those affected by this tragedy."
FERMANAGH
"Such a waste of precious life."
"Is a piece of land worth that much?"
"Done in whose name?"
"Why, why, why?"
"Nothing is worth this, nothing."
"Another stain on the history of Ireland."
"We young people must unite as we are the future - to Omagh, words are hollow. Let there be peace, once and for all."
"Such a callous and ruthless act - we cannot forgive and will never forget, God bless you all."
"We may not have known you personally but we love you one and all. With our tears we mourn you. Peace be with you and your families."
BELFAST CITY HALL
"What are they doing to my homeland? This must bring an end to all this suffering. My heart goes out to all who hurt. God bless."
"Will be always in our thoughts."
"After this darkest hour, will hopefully come a dawn."
"This tragedy will never be forgotten in the eyes of our people. My thoughts, hope and strength go out to all the families who have suffered for other people's senseless mistake."
"Words are pathetic to express the futility of such an act, and even more pathetic to convey the deep sorrow I have."
"This should never have happened."
"This is an awful tragedy, one that should not have happened to such a beautiful town. I pray that the people of Omagh can get through this."
"When I look at my children I cry."
By Kathryn Torney
ONE simple message ran through the sympathy messages in the books of condolence for the Omagh victims - the heartfelt question "Why?"
Tens of thousands of people across the province have signed their names and written poignant notes in the condolence books.
All were moved by the death of 28 people, the injuries to more than 200 and the devastation caused to the market town.
The books were opened by councils to allow people to express their sympathy - and their anger.
And condolences have also been coming in from all over the world.
The BELFAST TELEGRAPH'S Internet site book of condolences took 4,000 messages from all over the globe in just two days.
Sympathy for the people of Omagh came from Brazil. Australia. Canada and America.
BELFAST City Hall has seen a steady flow of people sending messages.
The signing of their eight books was exceptionally busy following the 15-minute vigil in the city centre for the victims of the bomb on Tuesday.
The council expect to have almost l0,000 signatures by the time the books close at 7pm tonight.
At LONDONDERRY'S Guildhall the strength of feeling could be seen early this week by the queues of people waiting to sign the book.
Among the names were messages from a nurse at Altnagelvin Hospital and others were written by visitors from New Zealand and America who were touched by the tragedy.
A spokesman said there were almost 2,000 signatures by Thursday.
Six books of condolences were opened by FERMANAGH District council in the town hall. Irvinestown. Lisnaskea. Roslea, Kesh and Belleek.
ARDS Borough Council has set up 13 books across the pensinsula.
A spokeswoman said: "We opened the first one in the council offices and then decided to distribute them more widely.
"There has been a steady stream of people signing them and offering their sympathies."
CRAIGAVON Borough Council has books in the civic centre and also in Portadown and Lurgan town halls.
A spokeswoman said: "We wanted to show our sympathy to the people of Omagh and it was unanimously decided at a council meeting to open the books."
ARMAGH City and District Council said some people wrote poems in their book.
Staff reported that hundreds of people had added their names to the book.
Sean Henry, public relations officer with MAGHERAFELT District Council. said it had been getting large numbers signing its book.
WHAT YOU WROTE ...
OMAGH
"WHY?"
"Words cannot express the sadness. Such tragic loss of life. You are all in our thoughts and prayers and will be remembered always."
"Let this be the end."
"What a waste."
"This tragedy has opened our hearts and eyes."
"We have all suffered enough - time for peace."
"Our prayers and thoughts are with all who suffered and died."
"Words cannot express the pain felt by all."
ARDS
"This should never have happened."
"Thinking of my neighbours in Omagh." - from a former resident of Castlederg.
"Peace. What peace?"
"Words fail. I had two of my children in Omagh. It could have happened to them. Please God let the bitter winds die now and build something worthwhile in all their memories."
"You are in our thoughts as you suffer."
"You are in our thoughts and prayers."
"Never forgotten."
DERRY
"May they rest in eternal peace in the Knowledge that there is no place in heaven for evil men."
"Why! Lord Why?"
I'm so sorry. Dear God please stop this madness."
"Twenty-eight innocents, dear God why? Rest in peace."
"This must stop now. Nothing is worth this." - nurse from Altnagelvin Hospital.
"There's pain, sorrow, anger for the people of Omagh but stubborn hope for peace."
"I am so sorry. As a mother and grandmother I feel for you."
CRAIGAVON
"Those who have lost understand."
"Shame on those who did this!"
"What a waste of life. So very sad."
"Why? '
"Where's the peace?"
"So cruel."
"Unbelievable."
"Let this be the last of the slaughter."
ARMAGH
"I am very sad." - an eight-year-old girl.
"May God bless you and keep you until we follow you."
"I think of you all every time I look at my family."
"An unneeded tragedy - God bless them."
"May their souls rest in peace. God forgive the murderers. Please let this be the end, we've all had more than enough heartache."
"Slaughter of the innocent."
"Children slain, so much pain, so where's the gain? Where is the love, the white peace dove, our constant faith in God above? While mothers weep, their little ones sleep, the Lord to keep." - in memory of Omagh.
MAGHERAFELT
"I'll always have them in my thoughts."
"A mindless massacre, so much suffering and pain, no logical reason, for what justified gain?"
"Such a tragic loss - deepest sympathies."
"Dead without a cause. God bless."
"Total madness."
"My deepest sympathy to all those affected by this tragedy."
FERMANAGH
"Such a waste of precious life."
"Is a piece of land worth that much?"
"Done in whose name?"
"Why, why, why?"
"Nothing is worth this, nothing."
"Another stain on the history of Ireland."
"We young people must unite as we are the future - to Omagh, words are hollow. Let there be peace, once and for all."
"Such a callous and ruthless act - we cannot forgive and will never forget, God bless you all."
"We may not have known you personally but we love you one and all. With our tears we mourn you. Peace be with you and your families."
BELFAST CITY HALL
"What are they doing to my homeland? This must bring an end to all this suffering. My heart goes out to all who hurt. God bless."
"Will be always in our thoughts."
"After this darkest hour, will hopefully come a dawn."
"This tragedy will never be forgotten in the eyes of our people. My thoughts, hope and strength go out to all the families who have suffered for other people's senseless mistake."
"Words are pathetic to express the futility of such an act, and even more pathetic to convey the deep sorrow I have."
"This should never have happened."
"This is an awful tragedy, one that should not have happened to such a beautiful town. I pray that the people of Omagh can get through this."
"When I look at my children I cry."
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0191
Published Date: 22-Aug-98
Related Images
