OMAGH TRADERS BEGIN REBUILDING TASK
Omagh traders begin painful rebuilding task
By Francess McDonnell
BUSINESS people in Omagh today began the sorrowful task of trying to rebuild commercial life in a town where the human cost of a car bomb will never be forgotten.
The Omagh Chamber of Commerce has encouraged businesses in the town to open today for the first time in eight days since the bomb killed 28 people and injured 220 others.
Omagh town still bears the scars of the atrocity. Ugly, gaping wounds where shops once stood in Market Street are a glaring reminder of the terrible event which took place on August 15.
The president of Omagh Chamber of Commerce. Michael Gaine, a businessman in the town, said he fully understands the conflicting emotions of the business community in the area.
Mr Gaine, who owns two restaurants, has been doing business in Omagh for 12 years, but he said today the town can never be the same again.
"It is very hard for people to return to their businesses knowing the shop next door can't open for business because the people who used to work there are lying in hospital or are dead.
"For many people today will be the first time they have got into the town since the bomb and that in itself will be a very difficult thing."
He said business people must now begin the task of dealing with the practicalities after the bomb.
"This is a difficult time for Omagh but we can't lie down - we have a moral duty to rebuild the town and we are getting a lot of help from a lot of different people who want to help us rebuild Omagh.
"Today we have a group of Manchester City Council visting the town to give us advice and we have a number of agencies who are going to help us with the legal side of things.
"It is very, very difficult for people because we now have to think about making claims for what happened and many people don't have the heart to do this. People in Omagh have always helped each other, always stood by each other and we have got to show now that we can rebuild this town," Mr Gaine said.
ARMAGH Economic Development Group has offered assistance to the business community of Omagh in rebuilding the town's economy.
Chairman Kieran McAnallen said he appreciated it may be difficult for them to recover but was confident they had the inherent strength and skills to build up the economy.
Mr McAnallen, in a letter to chief executive of the Tyrone town's council John McKinney, said even after a week it is still impossible to comprehend the scale of human suffering inflicted on innocent people.
By Francess McDonnell
BUSINESS people in Omagh today began the sorrowful task of trying to rebuild commercial life in a town where the human cost of a car bomb will never be forgotten.
The Omagh Chamber of Commerce has encouraged businesses in the town to open today for the first time in eight days since the bomb killed 28 people and injured 220 others.
Omagh town still bears the scars of the atrocity. Ugly, gaping wounds where shops once stood in Market Street are a glaring reminder of the terrible event which took place on August 15.
The president of Omagh Chamber of Commerce. Michael Gaine, a businessman in the town, said he fully understands the conflicting emotions of the business community in the area.
Mr Gaine, who owns two restaurants, has been doing business in Omagh for 12 years, but he said today the town can never be the same again.
"It is very hard for people to return to their businesses knowing the shop next door can't open for business because the people who used to work there are lying in hospital or are dead.
"For many people today will be the first time they have got into the town since the bomb and that in itself will be a very difficult thing."
He said business people must now begin the task of dealing with the practicalities after the bomb.
"This is a difficult time for Omagh but we can't lie down - we have a moral duty to rebuild the town and we are getting a lot of help from a lot of different people who want to help us rebuild Omagh.
"Today we have a group of Manchester City Council visting the town to give us advice and we have a number of agencies who are going to help us with the legal side of things.
"It is very, very difficult for people because we now have to think about making claims for what happened and many people don't have the heart to do this. People in Omagh have always helped each other, always stood by each other and we have got to show now that we can rebuild this town," Mr Gaine said.
ARMAGH Economic Development Group has offered assistance to the business community of Omagh in rebuilding the town's economy.
Chairman Kieran McAnallen said he appreciated it may be difficult for them to recover but was confident they had the inherent strength and skills to build up the economy.
Mr McAnallen, in a letter to chief executive of the Tyrone town's council John McKinney, said even after a week it is still impossible to comprehend the scale of human suffering inflicted on innocent people.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0250
Published Date: 24-Aug-98
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