PUPILS SAY A PRAYER FOR CLASSMATES
Pupils say a prayer for classmates
By Suzanne Rodgers and Claire McGahern
SCHOOL CHILDREN in Omagh will be offered trauma counselling when they return to class today, just over two weeks after the massacre which claimed 28 lives.
As Northern Ireland's 330,000 school pupils returned to their desks, the Western Education Board has called in the Centre for Crisis Management and Education - an international organisation which has worked with schools in Britain. America, Australia. Israel and Croatia.
Two specialists from the centre arrived in Omagh yesterday to assess the situation and set up the counselling service.
Board chairman Joe Martin said: "Even in the midst of all the pain and suffering, the immense goodness of the young people shone out like a bright star.
"It gave us hope that despite the terrible evil which stalked the streets of Omagh, good will ultimately triumph.
"The board will endeavour to do everything possible to make that happen and to work for the regeneration of a shattered community."
The principal of Omagh Academy, Jim McBane, said everyone at the school was anxious to return to normality as quickly as possible.
"Today is a time of reflection and we will briefly and significantly remember our lost children."
In Buncrana, classmates of Oran Doherty at Scoil Iosagan were due to say a special prayer for him and all the victims of the Omagh bombing at the start of class this morning.
Meanwhile, Bangor Grammar also started a new school year today, days after a report slammed its handling of allegations of sex abuse against its former deputy head Lindsay Brown who was later convicted of child abuse.
New headmaster Dr Nick Argent met staff at the school last week and at a school assembly today addressed "a number of matters" contained in the scathing report on the handling of abuse claims against Lindsay Brown.
Across Northern Ireland, it was back to school today for the majority of the province's 330.000 pupils at 1,250 schools.
By Suzanne Rodgers and Claire McGahern
SCHOOL CHILDREN in Omagh will be offered trauma counselling when they return to class today, just over two weeks after the massacre which claimed 28 lives.
As Northern Ireland's 330,000 school pupils returned to their desks, the Western Education Board has called in the Centre for Crisis Management and Education - an international organisation which has worked with schools in Britain. America, Australia. Israel and Croatia.
Two specialists from the centre arrived in Omagh yesterday to assess the situation and set up the counselling service.
Board chairman Joe Martin said: "Even in the midst of all the pain and suffering, the immense goodness of the young people shone out like a bright star.
"It gave us hope that despite the terrible evil which stalked the streets of Omagh, good will ultimately triumph.
"The board will endeavour to do everything possible to make that happen and to work for the regeneration of a shattered community."
The principal of Omagh Academy, Jim McBane, said everyone at the school was anxious to return to normality as quickly as possible.
"Today is a time of reflection and we will briefly and significantly remember our lost children."
In Buncrana, classmates of Oran Doherty at Scoil Iosagan were due to say a special prayer for him and all the victims of the Omagh bombing at the start of class this morning.
Meanwhile, Bangor Grammar also started a new school year today, days after a report slammed its handling of allegations of sex abuse against its former deputy head Lindsay Brown who was later convicted of child abuse.
New headmaster Dr Nick Argent met staff at the school last week and at a school assembly today addressed "a number of matters" contained in the scathing report on the handling of abuse claims against Lindsay Brown.
Across Northern Ireland, it was back to school today for the majority of the province's 330.000 pupils at 1,250 schools.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0332
Published Date: 01-Sep-98
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