BT/0566

Omagh gala disgraceful, says Gibson
£25,000 reception branded excessive
By Martina Purdy

THE Government splashed out £25,000 on a reception in honour of the Omagh bereaved while compensation is being denied to the families of some victims.
The Northern Ireland Office defended the decision to spend the money on the gala at Hillsborough - which was attended by around 1,000 people, Including those injured and support services such as ambulance and police personnel.
But Oliver Gibson, DUP member for West Tyrone, who declined to attend the reception in favour of attending the launch of a victims' support group, branded the expenditure as "disgraceful and excessive".
The Gallagher family, who lost their son Adrian (21) in the August 15 atrocity, said they have not received a penny in compensation.
And Stanley McCombe, whose wife Ann was killed, said he had received only £7,500 which did not even cover her annual salary. He is living on £55.70 sickness benefit and disability allowance as he has been unable to work.
Confirming the £25,000 price tag for the reception, which was catered and held under a marquee, an NIO spokesman said it was inappropriate to compare the funds to the compensation issue.
"This is a completely false comparison," said an NIO spokesman.
"Compensation is bound by legislation. The total eventual compensation bill is not yet known. Last night's reception is part of the continuing healing process for the people of Omagh and beyond.
It is part of the recognition that a deep debt of gratitude is owed to all who played a part in helping the victims of the Omagh tragedy."
The NIO had no breakdown of the budget figures for the reception.
The reception, which was planned for some months, came as victims familes complained about compensation.
Twenty nine people and two unborn babies were killed in the Omagh bomb which also injured around 300 people.
Mr Gibson, whose cousin's daughter Esther Gibson was killed in the blast said: "It is rather disgraceful when there is £25,000 wasted on tea and buns when in actual fact there are families in Tyrone struggling to survive on the pitiful and scrooge-like attitude of the government."
The group Voice was launched in west Tyrone for all paramilitary victims.
"The 160-odd people standing in Omagh last night would have welcomed the £25,000 to help themselves," he said.