OMAGH REFLECTS ON TRAGIC LESSONS
Omagh reflects on tragic lessons.
Forner President takes the lead in seminar
By Michael McHugh
FORMER President of the Republic, Mary Robinson, will reflect on the Omagh tragedy in a special lecture in the town tomorrow.
The seminar, entitled Learning To Heal Together � lessons from Omagh to the world and from the world to Omagh, will highlight the example the town has set for other areas recovering from conflict.
In August 1998, 29 people died after a Real IRA bomb ripped through the Tyrone town.
Ms Robinson will be joined in Omagh Leisure Complex by former Presbyterian Church Moderator Dr John Dunlop, who will chair a question and answer session.
Omagh District Council is organising the event and a spokeswoman said: "Tomorrow's service will be the last of the civic-led remembrances of the Omagh bomb and there is the feeling that we should move to a new phase of engagement with the tragedy.
"We are looking at how we can progress to learning the lessons and moving onto the wider plain of what Omagh can do to help.
"We talked about the format, learning to overcome the problems of the past, and we are confident that will be reflected on the evening."
Ms Robinson, a barrister and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, is now executive director of the Ethical Globalization Initiative which advocates greater human rights standards in international relations and commerce. She was President of the Republic from 1990 until 1997.
The Omagh centre for trauma and transformation has carried out pioneering research into dealing with victims of major disasters and the Omagh Selfhelp Group has spread the experience of Omagh through the world via the media and its high profile campaign for justice for relatives of the victims. Even medical professionals dealing with the aftermath of the bomb have been affected by stress and isolation but Lawrence Rush, who lost his wife in the bombing, said he was still recovering.
"I am sure Ms Robinson has some message to give but she has no experience of a loss like this," he said.
"There is a lot of talking that will do some people some good but I do not know what will be gained by the wider community.
"I am still recovering from my loss but maybe some people are ready to move on."
Forner President takes the lead in seminar
By Michael McHugh
FORMER President of the Republic, Mary Robinson, will reflect on the Omagh tragedy in a special lecture in the town tomorrow.
The seminar, entitled Learning To Heal Together � lessons from Omagh to the world and from the world to Omagh, will highlight the example the town has set for other areas recovering from conflict.
In August 1998, 29 people died after a Real IRA bomb ripped through the Tyrone town.
Ms Robinson will be joined in Omagh Leisure Complex by former Presbyterian Church Moderator Dr John Dunlop, who will chair a question and answer session.
Omagh District Council is organising the event and a spokeswoman said: "Tomorrow's service will be the last of the civic-led remembrances of the Omagh bomb and there is the feeling that we should move to a new phase of engagement with the tragedy.
"We are looking at how we can progress to learning the lessons and moving onto the wider plain of what Omagh can do to help.
"We talked about the format, learning to overcome the problems of the past, and we are confident that will be reflected on the evening."
Ms Robinson, a barrister and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, is now executive director of the Ethical Globalization Initiative which advocates greater human rights standards in international relations and commerce. She was President of the Republic from 1990 until 1997.
The Omagh centre for trauma and transformation has carried out pioneering research into dealing with victims of major disasters and the Omagh Selfhelp Group has spread the experience of Omagh through the world via the media and its high profile campaign for justice for relatives of the victims. Even medical professionals dealing with the aftermath of the bomb have been affected by stress and isolation but Lawrence Rush, who lost his wife in the bombing, said he was still recovering.
"I am sure Ms Robinson has some message to give but she has no experience of a loss like this," he said.
"There is a lot of talking that will do some people some good but I do not know what will be gained by the wider community.
"I am still recovering from my loss but maybe some people are ready to move on."
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0912
Published Date: 16-Aug-03
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