UNPLANNED TOUR OF BOMB SITE WINS APPROVAL
Unplanned tour of bomb site wins approval
Visit means so much, say relatives
By Ciaran O'Neill
RELATIVES of those killed in the Omagh bomb today said they were pleased the Queen had paid an unscheduled visit to the site of the bomb.
The Queen and Prince Philip had not been due to visit the site of the 1998 bomb as part of their official itinerary during the second leg of their Golden Jubilee tour in Omagh yesterday. But the Royal couple's programme was changed at the last minute to avert a potential row with relatives of the 29 people killed in the Real IRA explosion. After leaving Omagh Library, where the Queen and Prince Philip had met representatives from a number of local community groups, the royal cortege unexpectedly stopped at the bomb site at Market Street.
The Queen was accompanied to the exact spot where the bomb exploded by Secretary of State Dr John Reid, who spoke to her about the ongoing work to build a peace centre at the site. After a short period of reflection, the Queen's party left for their next engagement at Loughrey College where they met relatives of those killed in the Omagh bomb and other terrorist attacks.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was killed in the 1998 bomb, said he was pleased that the Queen's schedule had been re-arranged to allow her to visit the site of the explosion. "It would have thrown some sort of shadow over this visit if she hadn't gone to the bomb site," said Mr Gallagher, who was among relatives who met the Queen at Loughery College.
Earlier, the Queen acknowledged that it would take the town a long time to recover from the Real IRA bomb.
She made her comments while speaking to local community representatives at Omagh Library. Among the people she was introduced to was surgeon Dominic Pinto, current Sheriff for Tyrone, who treated many of the bomb victims. And in another link to the 1998 tragedy, a choir set up in the wake of the bomb to bring together young people from different religions performed for the Queen during her visit.
Members of the Omagh Community Youth Choir presented the Queen with a copy of a CD entitled To Love and Peace, which they released in conjunction with world-famous composer Andrew Lloyd-Webber. Daryl Simpson, the choir's musical director, said it had been a memorable occasion. "We only had the last few days to prepare, but everything went very well," said Mr Simpson.
"The Queen was impressed by the choir's performance and said she was pleased that something positive could come out of something so bad."
Visit means so much, say relatives
By Ciaran O'Neill
RELATIVES of those killed in the Omagh bomb today said they were pleased the Queen had paid an unscheduled visit to the site of the bomb.
The Queen and Prince Philip had not been due to visit the site of the 1998 bomb as part of their official itinerary during the second leg of their Golden Jubilee tour in Omagh yesterday. But the Royal couple's programme was changed at the last minute to avert a potential row with relatives of the 29 people killed in the Real IRA explosion. After leaving Omagh Library, where the Queen and Prince Philip had met representatives from a number of local community groups, the royal cortege unexpectedly stopped at the bomb site at Market Street.
The Queen was accompanied to the exact spot where the bomb exploded by Secretary of State Dr John Reid, who spoke to her about the ongoing work to build a peace centre at the site. After a short period of reflection, the Queen's party left for their next engagement at Loughrey College where they met relatives of those killed in the Omagh bomb and other terrorist attacks.
Michael Gallagher, whose son Aidan was killed in the 1998 bomb, said he was pleased that the Queen's schedule had been re-arranged to allow her to visit the site of the explosion. "It would have thrown some sort of shadow over this visit if she hadn't gone to the bomb site," said Mr Gallagher, who was among relatives who met the Queen at Loughery College.
Earlier, the Queen acknowledged that it would take the town a long time to recover from the Real IRA bomb.
She made her comments while speaking to local community representatives at Omagh Library. Among the people she was introduced to was surgeon Dominic Pinto, current Sheriff for Tyrone, who treated many of the bomb victims. And in another link to the 1998 tragedy, a choir set up in the wake of the bomb to bring together young people from different religions performed for the Queen during her visit.
Members of the Omagh Community Youth Choir presented the Queen with a copy of a CD entitled To Love and Peace, which they released in conjunction with world-famous composer Andrew Lloyd-Webber. Daryl Simpson, the choir's musical director, said it had been a memorable occasion. "We only had the last few days to prepare, but everything went very well," said Mr Simpson.
"The Queen was impressed by the choir's performance and said she was pleased that something positive could come out of something so bad."
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0856
Published Date: 15-May-02
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