RED CROSS TRIBUTE TO OMAGH
Red Cross tribute to courage of people of Omagh
By Kathryn Torney
THE people of the devastated town of Omagh were presented with a special Care in Crisis award from the British Red Cross today.
The presentation at Duke's Hotel, Belfast, marked the outstanding acts of courage which followed the terrible events endured in the town on August 15.
Tribute was paid to the community in recognition of "their strength, selflessness and compassion in tragic circumstances."
The award was accepted on the town's behalf by councillors Liam McQuaid and Oliver Gibson (Omagh District Council), Dr Peter Garrett and Sister Bridie McMenamin (Tyrone County Hospital) and Marion McGale (social worker, Sperrin Lakeland Trust), all of whom were directly involved in the emergency response at the scene.
Sixteen Red Cross volunteers, who worked tirelessly throughout the 48 hours immediately after the bomb, also received Certificates of High Commendation.
Husien Kadhum, a postgraduate student at Queen's University, received an individual Care in Crisis award after saving two sisters from a blazing flat.
Derek McCambley, the society's service support manager and Care in Crisis coordinator for Northern Ireland, said: "We have seen examples of extreme fortitude and true citizenship from an individual and an entire community and it is with great pride that Red Cross is able to mark this in some way."
Meanwhile, work began yesterday on the demolition of buildings devastated by the Omagh bombing.
Two months to the day after the blast which killed 29 people and injured hundreds of others, contractors moved in to clear the bomb site.
The work is expected to take a week to complete.
By Kathryn Torney
THE people of the devastated town of Omagh were presented with a special Care in Crisis award from the British Red Cross today.
The presentation at Duke's Hotel, Belfast, marked the outstanding acts of courage which followed the terrible events endured in the town on August 15.
Tribute was paid to the community in recognition of "their strength, selflessness and compassion in tragic circumstances."
The award was accepted on the town's behalf by councillors Liam McQuaid and Oliver Gibson (Omagh District Council), Dr Peter Garrett and Sister Bridie McMenamin (Tyrone County Hospital) and Marion McGale (social worker, Sperrin Lakeland Trust), all of whom were directly involved in the emergency response at the scene.
Sixteen Red Cross volunteers, who worked tirelessly throughout the 48 hours immediately after the bomb, also received Certificates of High Commendation.
Husien Kadhum, a postgraduate student at Queen's University, received an individual Care in Crisis award after saving two sisters from a blazing flat.
Derek McCambley, the society's service support manager and Care in Crisis coordinator for Northern Ireland, said: "We have seen examples of extreme fortitude and true citizenship from an individual and an entire community and it is with great pride that Red Cross is able to mark this in some way."
Meanwhile, work began yesterday on the demolition of buildings devastated by the Omagh bombing.
Two months to the day after the blast which killed 29 people and injured hundreds of others, contractors moved in to clear the bomb site.
The work is expected to take a week to complete.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0457
Published Date: 16-Oct-98
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