SURGEON WHO LED TREATMENT HONOURED
Surgeon who led treatment honoured
By Michael Devine
THE surgeon who worked round the clock to treat many of the 250 people injured in the Omagh bomb attack in August was honoured at a glittering ceremony in Dublin last night.
Dominic Pinto was presented with one of the People of the Year awards by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who praised him for his courage in the aftermath of the Omagh bombing.
Mr Ahern described the massacre as "my darkest hour as Taoiseach".
Former US Senator George Mitchell, who chaired the talks which led to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, was named as International Person of the Year.
Dublin schoolgirl Queva Griffin was presented with the Young Person of the Year award in recognition of her bravery in facing a life-saving heart and lung transplant operation.
Mr Pinto was chosen by the judges to represent all those who went to the aid of the injured and tended the 29 people who were killed in the explosion, which was carried out by the so-called Real IRA.
He was born in Goa, brought up in Kenya and studied in London. He joined the Tyrone County Hospital 18 years ago and was centrally involved in drawing up its major accident plan.
Mr Pinto said he was very surprised when he was contacted about ten days ago and told of the award.
"I didn't know how important it was at the time. Now I realise it is a very big event in Dublin. I am happy to receive it on behalf of the people at the hospital and the people of Omagh.
"That's why I brought with me four people who played a big role in the emergency at the time of the bomb - Michael Skues from the RUC, Derek Patterson from the ambulance service, Seamus Kelly, a nurse at the hospital, and Mrs Catherine Slevin, whose shop is near the scene or the bombing and who helped the injured."
Mr Pinto said that Omagh was now coming to terms with the bomb attack. He added: "We won't allow anyone to destroy us. We will reclaim our town. There will be problems for a while, but I think we are coping quite well, as we must.
He said that all of the injured people treated at the Tyrone County Hospital had now been discharged.
"There are a number of people still receiving specialist treatment in Belfast, including some having plastic surgery."
The award to Senator Mitchell, the first person from outside Ireland to be so honoured, was made via a satellite link-up to Washington.
Mr Ahern paid tribute to him for his work in bringing peace to Northern Ireland.
He was nominated for the award by dozens of county councils and hundreds of individuals on both sides of the border.
The awards were jointly sponsored by the Rehab Foundation and the Electricity Supply Board. Frank Flannery, chief executive of Rehab, described the recipients as "extraordinary people".
By Michael Devine
THE surgeon who worked round the clock to treat many of the 250 people injured in the Omagh bomb attack in August was honoured at a glittering ceremony in Dublin last night.
Dominic Pinto was presented with one of the People of the Year awards by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who praised him for his courage in the aftermath of the Omagh bombing.
Mr Ahern described the massacre as "my darkest hour as Taoiseach".
Former US Senator George Mitchell, who chaired the talks which led to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, was named as International Person of the Year.
Dublin schoolgirl Queva Griffin was presented with the Young Person of the Year award in recognition of her bravery in facing a life-saving heart and lung transplant operation.
Mr Pinto was chosen by the judges to represent all those who went to the aid of the injured and tended the 29 people who were killed in the explosion, which was carried out by the so-called Real IRA.
He was born in Goa, brought up in Kenya and studied in London. He joined the Tyrone County Hospital 18 years ago and was centrally involved in drawing up its major accident plan.
Mr Pinto said he was very surprised when he was contacted about ten days ago and told of the award.
"I didn't know how important it was at the time. Now I realise it is a very big event in Dublin. I am happy to receive it on behalf of the people at the hospital and the people of Omagh.
"That's why I brought with me four people who played a big role in the emergency at the time of the bomb - Michael Skues from the RUC, Derek Patterson from the ambulance service, Seamus Kelly, a nurse at the hospital, and Mrs Catherine Slevin, whose shop is near the scene or the bombing and who helped the injured."
Mr Pinto said that Omagh was now coming to terms with the bomb attack. He added: "We won't allow anyone to destroy us. We will reclaim our town. There will be problems for a while, but I think we are coping quite well, as we must.
He said that all of the injured people treated at the Tyrone County Hospital had now been discharged.
"There are a number of people still receiving specialist treatment in Belfast, including some having plastic surgery."
The award to Senator Mitchell, the first person from outside Ireland to be so honoured, was made via a satellite link-up to Washington.
Mr Ahern paid tribute to him for his work in bringing peace to Northern Ireland.
He was nominated for the award by dozens of county councils and hundreds of individuals on both sides of the border.
The awards were jointly sponsored by the Rehab Foundation and the Electricity Supply Board. Frank Flannery, chief executive of Rehab, described the recipients as "extraordinary people".
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0487
Published Date: 10-Nov-98
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