TEARS AS TIDE OFGRIEF SWEEPS COMMUNITY
Tears as tide of grief sweeps a community
By Ciaran McGuigan
TENS of thousands of people packed the centre of Omagh to pay tribute to the bomb victims in prayers, in hymns and in silence.
Up to 50,000 people came on Saturday to pay respects to the 28 people who had died exactly seven days earlier.
During the minute's silence, some held their heads in their hands, some fought back tears.
The sobs of small children could be heard along the long narrow street.
In front of the town's courthouse Michael Doherty clung to railings not far from the spot where his eight-year-old son Oran died.
The front of the courthouse was draped with crimson curtains.
On the steps of the courthouse Taoiseach Bertie Ahern stood alongside Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott. First Minister David Trimble, his deputy Seamus Mallon and a host of other political leaders.
Fr Kevin Mullan led the prayerful reflection as the people of Omagh began the long and painful process of reclaiming their town.
Prayers were said in English, Irish and Spanish.
Read by Catholics and Protestants, they remembered the dead and the injured, the emergency services, hospital staff and the community of a town united in grief.
Tear-filled eyes looked on as soloist Juliet Turner sang the ballad Broken Things.
Then the names of the dead were read.
The list included Avril Monaghan's unborn twin "girls due to be born in a few short week's time".
And then, at 3.10pm - the time the bomb exploded - silence.
Most people bowed their heads. Many of the victims' relatives clung to each other for support.
Those who could fght back tears did. but many wept openly as a tide of grief washed down Omagh's High Street.
Nearly one hour after the service had ended many people still milled about in the street, still coming to terms with and trying to comprehend what had happened during the last seven days.
Others joined the long and slow procession of people on the journey back through Omagh's narrow streets and across the Strule Bridge.
Many stopped to read the messages on some of the hundreds of floral tributes that lined the bridge.
And, as candles flickered in the breeze, the message on one bouquet summed up the hopes of Omagh.
"United in pain and suffering. May this togetherness unite us in a hope that we will all find peace in our lives, our town and our country."
By Ciaran McGuigan
TENS of thousands of people packed the centre of Omagh to pay tribute to the bomb victims in prayers, in hymns and in silence.
Up to 50,000 people came on Saturday to pay respects to the 28 people who had died exactly seven days earlier.
During the minute's silence, some held their heads in their hands, some fought back tears.
The sobs of small children could be heard along the long narrow street.
In front of the town's courthouse Michael Doherty clung to railings not far from the spot where his eight-year-old son Oran died.
The front of the courthouse was draped with crimson curtains.
On the steps of the courthouse Taoiseach Bertie Ahern stood alongside Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott. First Minister David Trimble, his deputy Seamus Mallon and a host of other political leaders.
Fr Kevin Mullan led the prayerful reflection as the people of Omagh began the long and painful process of reclaiming their town.
Prayers were said in English, Irish and Spanish.
Read by Catholics and Protestants, they remembered the dead and the injured, the emergency services, hospital staff and the community of a town united in grief.
Tear-filled eyes looked on as soloist Juliet Turner sang the ballad Broken Things.
Then the names of the dead were read.
The list included Avril Monaghan's unborn twin "girls due to be born in a few short week's time".
And then, at 3.10pm - the time the bomb exploded - silence.
Most people bowed their heads. Many of the victims' relatives clung to each other for support.
Those who could fght back tears did. but many wept openly as a tide of grief washed down Omagh's High Street.
Nearly one hour after the service had ended many people still milled about in the street, still coming to terms with and trying to comprehend what had happened during the last seven days.
Others joined the long and slow procession of people on the journey back through Omagh's narrow streets and across the Strule Bridge.
Many stopped to read the messages on some of the hundreds of floral tributes that lined the bridge.
And, as candles flickered in the breeze, the message on one bouquet summed up the hopes of Omagh.
"United in pain and suffering. May this togetherness unite us in a hope that we will all find peace in our lives, our town and our country."
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0238
Published Date: 24-Aug-98
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