PARALYSED OFFICER TELLS OF PEACE HOPES
Paralysed officer tells of peace hopes
By John Hicks
A NEW YORK police officer, paralysed from the neck down, travelled to Northern Ireland yesterday to share in the grief of Omagh.
Detective Steve McDonald (41) said he firmly believed the appalling massacre marked a watershed in the history of the Troubles.
After speaking to both sides of the community he said the atrocity had already become a "lighthouse in the fog".
The severely disabled police officer is one of the loudest voices of love and forgiveness in the US.
Since he was shot in the head by a 15-year-old criminal, his message of non-violence has made headlines.
Ironically his nine day tour of the Ireland-Project Reconciliation - was planned three months ahead of the Omagh bombing.
Five days ago he met Irish premier Bertie Ahern in Dublin and has since spoken to Protestants at the West Belfast Mission.
Detective McDonald knows a lot about suffering and has every reason to hate the man who wrecked his life.
His injuries left him strapped to a wheelchair and he can only breathe through a tracheostomy.
But since the near fatal day in 1986 he has attempted to bring peace and purpose to his would-be killer's life, and began writing him letters of forgiveness.
And he said he felt the same resonances after only a few days in the Province.
"I think it is finally the beginning of the end of the violence in this corner of the world.
"The Omagh bombing was of such a horrible nature that those who participated in it cannot but see that it did nothing to resolve the differences between poeple."
By John Hicks
A NEW YORK police officer, paralysed from the neck down, travelled to Northern Ireland yesterday to share in the grief of Omagh.
Detective Steve McDonald (41) said he firmly believed the appalling massacre marked a watershed in the history of the Troubles.
After speaking to both sides of the community he said the atrocity had already become a "lighthouse in the fog".
The severely disabled police officer is one of the loudest voices of love and forgiveness in the US.
Since he was shot in the head by a 15-year-old criminal, his message of non-violence has made headlines.
Ironically his nine day tour of the Ireland-Project Reconciliation - was planned three months ahead of the Omagh bombing.
Five days ago he met Irish premier Bertie Ahern in Dublin and has since spoken to Protestants at the West Belfast Mission.
Detective McDonald knows a lot about suffering and has every reason to hate the man who wrecked his life.
His injuries left him strapped to a wheelchair and he can only breathe through a tracheostomy.
But since the near fatal day in 1986 he has attempted to bring peace and purpose to his would-be killer's life, and began writing him letters of forgiveness.
And he said he felt the same resonances after only a few days in the Province.
"I think it is finally the beginning of the end of the violence in this corner of the world.
"The Omagh bombing was of such a horrible nature that those who participated in it cannot but see that it did nothing to resolve the differences between poeple."
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0257
Published Date: 25-Aug-98
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