OMAGH BOMB VICTIM HAS CAR STOLEN
Omagh bomb victim has car stolen
By William Allen
CRUEL thieves who stole a car from a victim of the Omagh bomb were today being hunted by police on both sides of the border.
Diane McCann, a 21-year-old who underwent two operations on her spine and was only allowed to drive again at Christmas, was left stranded shortly before midnight on Monday.
A thief raced off in her car when she pulled in to buy sweets for her little brother, Aaron, at the Classic filling station on the Dromore Road.
Her angry father, Pio, a presenter with Highland Radio in Donegal, said today the family have already given up hope that the car will be recovered.
He added: "Whoever took the car was obviously waiting for a victim.
"The shop was closing as she got there and she was near enough the last one served. She was only in the shop for two minutes and could actually see the roof of the car from where she was.
"A young man wearing a baseball cap was seen jumping into it and driving it away. Diane ran out and saw it going and said the boy was driving away that fast there was smoke everywhere."
Ms McCann suffered severe injuries in the Omagh blast and spent ten weeks in hospital. She uses the car to get to physiotherapy and swimming sessions.
Mr McCann said: "Police told me a car is being stolen every night in Omagh and it seems most of them never turn up again. I would think they are being driven straight across the border.
"That wee car meant everything to her."
The RUC and Garda were today hunting the lime green Vauxhall Corsa Sting, registration number WJI 3012.
By William Allen
CRUEL thieves who stole a car from a victim of the Omagh bomb were today being hunted by police on both sides of the border.
Diane McCann, a 21-year-old who underwent two operations on her spine and was only allowed to drive again at Christmas, was left stranded shortly before midnight on Monday.
A thief raced off in her car when she pulled in to buy sweets for her little brother, Aaron, at the Classic filling station on the Dromore Road.
Her angry father, Pio, a presenter with Highland Radio in Donegal, said today the family have already given up hope that the car will be recovered.
He added: "Whoever took the car was obviously waiting for a victim.
"The shop was closing as she got there and she was near enough the last one served. She was only in the shop for two minutes and could actually see the roof of the car from where she was.
"A young man wearing a baseball cap was seen jumping into it and driving it away. Diane ran out and saw it going and said the boy was driving away that fast there was smoke everywhere."
Ms McCann suffered severe injuries in the Omagh blast and spent ten weeks in hospital. She uses the car to get to physiotherapy and swimming sessions.
Mr McCann said: "Police told me a car is being stolen every night in Omagh and it seems most of them never turn up again. I would think they are being driven straight across the border.
"That wee car meant everything to her."
The RUC and Garda were today hunting the lime green Vauxhall Corsa Sting, registration number WJI 3012.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0570
Published Date: 03-Mar-99
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