BT/0401

Ahern accepts soccer play cheque for Omagh

IRISH Prime Minister Bertie Ahern appeared on the stage of Dublin's Gaiety Theatre last night to receive a £55,000 donation to aid victims of the Omagh bomb outrage.
The cheque, representing the first night's proceeds from a musical play telling the story of Glasgow Celtic FC, was handed over by a teenager who emerged a hero from last month's Omagh blast that killed 29 people and injured more than 200.
Sean O'Connor (19) from Dromore, Co Tyrone, was seen on an amateur video film tending the injured and helping people away from the scene while dressed in the familiar green and white Celtic shirt.
He was joined on the stage of the Gaiety for the ceremony by Ashling Doherty (16) from Buncrana, Co Donegal, whose eight-year-old brother Oran was among three young boys from the Irish Republican village to be killed in Omagh while on a day out.
Warren Warnock (14) of rivals Glasgow Rangers was also on hand to show solidarity with his Celtic counterparts.