BLAST BOY RONAN BOUNCING BACK
Blast boy Ronan bouncing back
EXCLUSIVE
By William Allen
Teenager promised football day out
THIS is the picture the world wanted to see - the brave teenager singled out by the deputy Prime Minister out of intensive care and back at home today. Ronan McGrory (14) was one of five Buncrana boys caught up in the Omagh bomb horror that killed three of his friends and also injured the other.
Two of his Spanish friends also died.
Ronan, who received serious chest and abdominal injuries, was pulled out of the wreckage by a police officer who believed the boy was so badly injured that he might not pull through.
Yet, when deputy PM John Prescott visited the Tyrone County Hospital to speak to victims of the Omagh atrocity, he told the world's media that Ronan McGrory's spirit gave him hope for the future.
On recovering consciousness at the Tyrone County Hospital where he was initially treated, the soccer-mad teenager ignored the pain inflicted by the terrorists to ask if Liverpool had beaten Southampton.
His spirit inspired Mr Prescott, who asked Ronan if he had ever been to Liverpool.
When the youngster said he had never seen his favourite team in live action, Mr Prescott promised he would talk to Tony Blair to see if arrangements could be made for Ronan to watch a game at Anfield.
The Premiership giants immediately responded by sending the boy a shirt signed by Michael Owen and a tape recording of get-well messages from all of the squad members.
Ronan was a member of the party of Spanish and local youngsters who left Buncrana for a day trip to the Ulster-American Folk Park and found themselves in Omagh when the bomb exploded.
Of the five Buncrana boys on the bus-trip, three were killed alongside two of their Spanish friends and two were injured.
Some 17 of the Spanish visitors were also injured, though five local girls who took part in the trip escaped serious injury.
A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Office said today that Mr Prescott's pledge had not been forgotten.
"As soon as he is fully fit, Liverpool have agreed to bring Ronan over to see a match." she said.
EXCLUSIVE
By William Allen
Teenager promised football day out
THIS is the picture the world wanted to see - the brave teenager singled out by the deputy Prime Minister out of intensive care and back at home today. Ronan McGrory (14) was one of five Buncrana boys caught up in the Omagh bomb horror that killed three of his friends and also injured the other.
Two of his Spanish friends also died.
Ronan, who received serious chest and abdominal injuries, was pulled out of the wreckage by a police officer who believed the boy was so badly injured that he might not pull through.
Yet, when deputy PM John Prescott visited the Tyrone County Hospital to speak to victims of the Omagh atrocity, he told the world's media that Ronan McGrory's spirit gave him hope for the future.
On recovering consciousness at the Tyrone County Hospital where he was initially treated, the soccer-mad teenager ignored the pain inflicted by the terrorists to ask if Liverpool had beaten Southampton.
His spirit inspired Mr Prescott, who asked Ronan if he had ever been to Liverpool.
When the youngster said he had never seen his favourite team in live action, Mr Prescott promised he would talk to Tony Blair to see if arrangements could be made for Ronan to watch a game at Anfield.
The Premiership giants immediately responded by sending the boy a shirt signed by Michael Owen and a tape recording of get-well messages from all of the squad members.
Ronan was a member of the party of Spanish and local youngsters who left Buncrana for a day trip to the Ulster-American Folk Park and found themselves in Omagh when the bomb exploded.
Of the five Buncrana boys on the bus-trip, three were killed alongside two of their Spanish friends and two were injured.
Some 17 of the Spanish visitors were also injured, though five local girls who took part in the trip escaped serious injury.
A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Office said today that Mr Prescott's pledge had not been forgotten.
"As soon as he is fully fit, Liverpool have agreed to bring Ronan over to see a match." she said.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0301
Published Date: 28-Aug-98
Related Images
