QUEEN AND BOMB VICTIM FAMILIES SHARE SAD EXPERIENCES
Queen and bomb victim families share sad experiences
Garden party guests receive Royal sympathy
By Marie Foy
IT WAS a day of fluttering silk scarves and fly-away hats as a blustery breeze swept across Tyrone.
But pleasant sunshine turned the well-groomed grounds of Loughry Agricultural College, near Cookstown, into the perfect setting for a Golden Jubilee garden party yesterday. As they waited for the Royal visitors to arrive at the college, more than 1,000 guests lunched on strawberries and cream, and swayed to the Caribbean sound of Coleraine College steel band.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, accompanied by the Secretary of State Dr John Reid and Minister of State Jane Kennedy, were met by a rousing fanfare from the PSNI Band.
After they were warmly applauded, the Queen was invited to plant a tree to mark the occasion. Among those they met were relatives of people murdered in terrorist bombings at Omagh, Enniskillen and La Mon. Earlier, the Queen and Prince Philip had made an unscheduled stop at the site of the Real IRA Omagh bomb. Michael Gallagher, who lost his son Adrian in the atrocity, had complained to the NIO when the visit had not been included in the Queen's itinerary.
"We can't erase the past of what happened at Omagh or anywhere else in Northern Ireland. It would have cast a shadow on my day if she hadn't stopped and recognised Omagh," he said. "It is very important that people who have lost their lives for no reason are not forgotten."
He added: "I think the Queen was quite shocked just to meet victims. She was very sympathetic and understanding. "
Margaret Crawford, whose daughter and son-in-law Elizabeth and Ian McCracken died at La Mon, said: "It will give me more strength knowing that the Queen herself can come and be so humble and speak to ordinary people like me. She took me into her heart and looked so plainly at me and made me feel really at ease."
And Margaret Veitch, whose parents Billy and Agnes Mullan were killed at Enniskillen, was also impressed by the Queen's interest. "Between her and the other politicians we met, we felt we haven't been forgotten."
First Minister David Trimble, who was also there, said: "The Queen met victims from three of the worst atrocities. It is appropriate that that should be remembered."
The Royals went on to meet others who were involved in voluntary, community and public service, and the Queen admired a quilt depicting the 72 nations of the Commonwealth made by the Pomeroy Arts and Crafts Group.
Evelyn Cummings, from the Mid-Ulster Spina Bifida Association, said: "It is a great honour to be here. It's the opportunity of a lifetime."
And Rhonda Evans, one of the teenagers in the steel band, said the day had been a huge success, even if the Duke's accent had been "a little hard to understand".
Garden party guests receive Royal sympathy
By Marie Foy
IT WAS a day of fluttering silk scarves and fly-away hats as a blustery breeze swept across Tyrone.
But pleasant sunshine turned the well-groomed grounds of Loughry Agricultural College, near Cookstown, into the perfect setting for a Golden Jubilee garden party yesterday. As they waited for the Royal visitors to arrive at the college, more than 1,000 guests lunched on strawberries and cream, and swayed to the Caribbean sound of Coleraine College steel band.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, accompanied by the Secretary of State Dr John Reid and Minister of State Jane Kennedy, were met by a rousing fanfare from the PSNI Band.
After they were warmly applauded, the Queen was invited to plant a tree to mark the occasion. Among those they met were relatives of people murdered in terrorist bombings at Omagh, Enniskillen and La Mon. Earlier, the Queen and Prince Philip had made an unscheduled stop at the site of the Real IRA Omagh bomb. Michael Gallagher, who lost his son Adrian in the atrocity, had complained to the NIO when the visit had not been included in the Queen's itinerary.
"We can't erase the past of what happened at Omagh or anywhere else in Northern Ireland. It would have cast a shadow on my day if she hadn't stopped and recognised Omagh," he said. "It is very important that people who have lost their lives for no reason are not forgotten."
He added: "I think the Queen was quite shocked just to meet victims. She was very sympathetic and understanding. "
Margaret Crawford, whose daughter and son-in-law Elizabeth and Ian McCracken died at La Mon, said: "It will give me more strength knowing that the Queen herself can come and be so humble and speak to ordinary people like me. She took me into her heart and looked so plainly at me and made me feel really at ease."
And Margaret Veitch, whose parents Billy and Agnes Mullan were killed at Enniskillen, was also impressed by the Queen's interest. "Between her and the other politicians we met, we felt we haven't been forgotten."
First Minister David Trimble, who was also there, said: "The Queen met victims from three of the worst atrocities. It is appropriate that that should be remembered."
The Royals went on to meet others who were involved in voluntary, community and public service, and the Queen admired a quilt depicting the 72 nations of the Commonwealth made by the Pomeroy Arts and Crafts Group.
Evelyn Cummings, from the Mid-Ulster Spina Bifida Association, said: "It is a great honour to be here. It's the opportunity of a lifetime."
And Rhonda Evans, one of the teenagers in the steel band, said the day had been a huge success, even if the Duke's accent had been "a little hard to understand".
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0855
Published Date: 15-May-02
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