BT/0397

Taoiseach receives first night gift for victims

IRISH Prime Minister Bertie Ahern will tonight receive the IR£50,000 proceeds from the First night of a Dublin stage show - to hand over to victims of the Omagh bombing.
Among other guests at tonight's production in the Irish capital's Gaiety Theatre of The Celtic Story - which is all about the famous Glasgow football club - will be a hero of the Omagh blast.
Sean O'Connor (19) from Dromore, Co Tyrone, was shown on a post-bombing amateur video film aiding the injured - while wearing a Celtic shirt.
There, too, will be Aisling Doherty (16) from Buncrana, Co Donegal, whose brother Oran was among three young boys from the Irish Republic village to die in Omagh while on a cross-border day out.
And a third young guest will Warren Warnock (14) a supporter of the rival Glasgow Rangers club, present to show solidarity with his Celtic counterparts.
Soccer fan and one time player Mr Ahern will accept the cheque on behalf of the Scottish-Irish Omagh fund, established last month specifically to raise cash for those caught up in the terrorist attack.
Mr Ahern said of the first-night gesture: "The decision to dedicate the funds raised from the Gala Premier to the Omagh fund epitomises the
generosity of this great club, which has non-sectarianism at the very core of its philosophy.
A number of soccer and showbiz personalities will also be at the Gaiety for the opening.
-PA