CASH RAISES ITS OWN QUESTIONS
Cash raises its own questions
IT may seem cruel - even callous - but it was also, sadly, inevitable.
Public interest in the Omagh Fund is waning and may indeed dry up altogether, according to its hard-working manager Brian Oliphant.
He says other tragedies, such as the devastating floods in Central America, are overshadowing the plight of the Tyrone town.
Dwindling media interest isn't helping either, complains Mr Oliphant.
Omagh, he says, could never have enough. Five million pounds was thought of as an initial target but if he'd �20m he could easily find uses for it. Of course he could.
Mr Oliphant's concern is completely understandable. He has seen more than most the dreadful legacy of heartbreak and suffering unleashed by the bombers.
But his comments will also, albeit unintentionally, cause upset - and, in some instances, even offence.
It's probably true to say that few, if any, of our other appalling atrocities - and there have been many - have so touched the hearts and souls of so great a number of people, north and south of the border, as that which befell Omagh on August 15.
Many ordinary men, women and children, who felt at once both desperately helpless but desperately wanting to help in any way possible, dug deep in their pockets with a heart and a half to give, to date, �860,000.
A star-studded edition of Gay Byrne's Late Late Show last week raised another �620,000.
Others, in the run-up to Christmas, are heeding the pleas of shopkeepers in the struggling town, wrapping up warm and travelling many miles to 'give a day' to Omagh.
The music world is doing its bit. A gala fundraiser was held at Belfast's Waterfront Hall, and a compilation album, 'Across the Bridge of Hope', featuring, amongst others, U2, Van Morrison, Ash, Boyzone and The Corrs, is being rushed out.
Tennis stars Boris Becker and Greg Rusedski are playing a match in aid of the victims; French soccer star David Ginola played a charity fixture at Derry's Brandywell.
Ballymena - bom actor Liam Neeson donated the proceeds of a recent libel action.
Despite Mr Oliphant's worries, many people from all walks of life have - and will - continue to help the Fund.
Yet, those earnest efforts notwithstanding, many will still feel that they have not done enough. That their contribution is too small. That no matter what they do, it will always be inadequate.
And in one sense, they're completely right.
The carnage at Omagh was the worst terrorist outrage in our bloody history, leaving 29 people and two unborn babies dead, and hundreds of others horrifically injured - many of whom will be maimed for life.
All the money in the world will never bring back a single loved one nor replace a lost limb.
All the cash can do, at the very best, is make life a little easier in a practical way for those left behind, whether they mourn or whether they try to live with appalling injuries - or both.
Today there are also thousands in our province who grieve for murdered relatives and friends; innocent people who struggle, day after weary day, to live with injuries, mental and physical, inflicted by the terror gangs - before Omagh and after Omagh.
Acts of inhumanity carried out by paramilitaries whose political representatives now earn good money discussing all our futures at the Assembly.
And in most cases those deaths or woundings were single incidents. They were deplored by the vast majority of good people here, no matter what 'side' inflicted them. But they were also too easily forgotten when the next killing came along.
It's an uncomfortable fact of life that for most of those people there were never any ensuing fund-raising drives. No great wave of public sympathy for them.
Has anyone started a fund for the family of Brian Service, the young Catholic man murdered by loyalists in north Belfast last month?
Only the most malevolent could ever begrudge the people of Omagh a single penny.
If you can spare the money make a donation to the Fund or buy the 'Bridge of Hope' album for someone this Christmas.
Nobel Peace Prize winners John Hume and David Trimble, who said their prize was one of peace, might even chose to contribute some of their prize money?
But funds - and more to the point money - always bring difficulties.
Who would really want the heart-rending task of deciding who gets how much money from the Omagh Fund?
It must be well-nigh impossible to make decisions in the face of such pain, so much raw emotion.
Perhaps the best course for the Fund organisers is to set a final date for contributions; to concentrate on one last push for an agreed target.
The Fund has been excellent for two reasons: it has offered help to those who need it and it has allowed us to show we care.
But ultimately the greatest step towards healing for the Omagh victims - and all the other casualties of our Troubles - is one that no amount of money can buy.
A return to a normal society.
IT may seem cruel - even callous - but it was also, sadly, inevitable.
Public interest in the Omagh Fund is waning and may indeed dry up altogether, according to its hard-working manager Brian Oliphant.
He says other tragedies, such as the devastating floods in Central America, are overshadowing the plight of the Tyrone town.
Dwindling media interest isn't helping either, complains Mr Oliphant.
Omagh, he says, could never have enough. Five million pounds was thought of as an initial target but if he'd �20m he could easily find uses for it. Of course he could.
Mr Oliphant's concern is completely understandable. He has seen more than most the dreadful legacy of heartbreak and suffering unleashed by the bombers.
But his comments will also, albeit unintentionally, cause upset - and, in some instances, even offence.
It's probably true to say that few, if any, of our other appalling atrocities - and there have been many - have so touched the hearts and souls of so great a number of people, north and south of the border, as that which befell Omagh on August 15.
Many ordinary men, women and children, who felt at once both desperately helpless but desperately wanting to help in any way possible, dug deep in their pockets with a heart and a half to give, to date, �860,000.
A star-studded edition of Gay Byrne's Late Late Show last week raised another �620,000.
Others, in the run-up to Christmas, are heeding the pleas of shopkeepers in the struggling town, wrapping up warm and travelling many miles to 'give a day' to Omagh.
The music world is doing its bit. A gala fundraiser was held at Belfast's Waterfront Hall, and a compilation album, 'Across the Bridge of Hope', featuring, amongst others, U2, Van Morrison, Ash, Boyzone and The Corrs, is being rushed out.
Tennis stars Boris Becker and Greg Rusedski are playing a match in aid of the victims; French soccer star David Ginola played a charity fixture at Derry's Brandywell.
Ballymena - bom actor Liam Neeson donated the proceeds of a recent libel action.
Despite Mr Oliphant's worries, many people from all walks of life have - and will - continue to help the Fund.
Yet, those earnest efforts notwithstanding, many will still feel that they have not done enough. That their contribution is too small. That no matter what they do, it will always be inadequate.
And in one sense, they're completely right.
The carnage at Omagh was the worst terrorist outrage in our bloody history, leaving 29 people and two unborn babies dead, and hundreds of others horrifically injured - many of whom will be maimed for life.
All the money in the world will never bring back a single loved one nor replace a lost limb.
All the cash can do, at the very best, is make life a little easier in a practical way for those left behind, whether they mourn or whether they try to live with appalling injuries - or both.
Today there are also thousands in our province who grieve for murdered relatives and friends; innocent people who struggle, day after weary day, to live with injuries, mental and physical, inflicted by the terror gangs - before Omagh and after Omagh.
Acts of inhumanity carried out by paramilitaries whose political representatives now earn good money discussing all our futures at the Assembly.
And in most cases those deaths or woundings were single incidents. They were deplored by the vast majority of good people here, no matter what 'side' inflicted them. But they were also too easily forgotten when the next killing came along.
It's an uncomfortable fact of life that for most of those people there were never any ensuing fund-raising drives. No great wave of public sympathy for them.
Has anyone started a fund for the family of Brian Service, the young Catholic man murdered by loyalists in north Belfast last month?
Only the most malevolent could ever begrudge the people of Omagh a single penny.
If you can spare the money make a donation to the Fund or buy the 'Bridge of Hope' album for someone this Christmas.
Nobel Peace Prize winners John Hume and David Trimble, who said their prize was one of peace, might even chose to contribute some of their prize money?
But funds - and more to the point money - always bring difficulties.
Who would really want the heart-rending task of deciding who gets how much money from the Omagh Fund?
It must be well-nigh impossible to make decisions in the face of such pain, so much raw emotion.
Perhaps the best course for the Fund organisers is to set a final date for contributions; to concentrate on one last push for an agreed target.
The Fund has been excellent for two reasons: it has offered help to those who need it and it has allowed us to show we care.
But ultimately the greatest step towards healing for the Omagh victims - and all the other casualties of our Troubles - is one that no amount of money can buy.
A return to a normal society.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0525
Published Date: 30-Nov-98
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