BT/0339

BOMB BOY WANTED TO HELP PEACE

Bomb boy wanted to help peace
By John Hicks

AN all-out search is on for one of the 'heroes of Omagh'... a teenage boy wearing a Celtic football shirt who helped the injured.
Millions of TV viewers saw the youngster on an amateur video shot seconds after the horrific blast.
He was clearly seen helping the stunned and injured to their feet as the dust settled around the camera.
Now, more than two weeks on from the atrocity, a former director of Celtic Football Club is searching for the young supporter.
Millionaire property developer Brian Dempsey wants the young Samaritan to join a Rangers fan to hand over a �50,000 cheque to the Omagh victims.
It will be given to the Irish Premier Bertie Ahern at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin next Tuesday before curtain-up on the first night of the Celtic Story.
The producers of the play, which tells the story of four generations of Irish emigrants to Glasgow, have pledged a minimum donation of �50,000.
And Irish and Scottish celebrities have promised to boost the fund by another �100,000.
Producer of the musical play Brenda Carson has tried everything to identify the unknown Celtic supporter.
She said: "No-one seems to know who this young Celtic supporter is. Perhaps he is just too traumatised.
"It would be marvellous to have him as our guest of honour at the Gaiety Theatre next week.
"We hope he could join a Rangers fan from Northern Ireland and together hand the cheque to Mr Ahern.
"It would be a powerful symbol of how the divisions in our community can be repaired."
Bands such as U2, Wet Wet Wet and Simple Minds are believed to be in the early stages of organising a fund raising gig in Dublin for the victims.

Further Information

Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH

Ref: BT/0339

Published Date: 01-Sep-98

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