OMAGH BOMB RELATIVES AND FUND TRUSTEES GET TOGETHER
Omagh bomb relatives and fund trustees get together
By Michael McHugh
THE chairman of Omagh District Council hopes to convene a meeting between relatives of those who died in the Omagh bombing and the Omagh Hardship Fund set up to help those affected by the blast.
The development follows lobbying by the Omagh Self-Help Group which is concerned at the allocation of donations worth �200,000 made by groups and individuals from around the world after the 1998 bomb.
Trustees of the Omagh Hardship Fund are inviting applications for money from people across the province who were affected by the carnage.
Omagh families met with the chairman and chief executive of Omagh District Council in the council offices last week.
They feel they have not been adequately consulted by the Omagh Fund trustees, who gave a substantial sum to the Omagh-based Northern Ireland Centre for Trauma and Transformation and other important projects.
"We met with the chief executive and the chairman of the council and left them in no doubt that we were very unhappy," Michael Gallagher said.
"Those who allocate the money are not going to make people grovel and we asked the council to ask the Omagh Fund to have a meeting with the families so we could air our concerns to them directly.
"We asked for all four trustees to be present because we have never had a meeting with all of them at the same time."
Bids for the money will be open to people from those across the province, as well as Madrid and Buncrana,
and up to �5,000 will be available to each group.
Recommendations for awards will be made by local community and religious groups including the Forum in Omagh for Community Understanding and Support (FOCUS) and the Northern Ireland Centre for Trauma and Transformation.
Omagh Council chairman Allan Rainey said he had listened to the concerns of the Omagh relatives and had instructed his officials to invite the Omagh Fund trustees to a meeting.
"As far as I am aware a letter has been sent or will soon be sent to the trustees inviting them to this meeting," he confirmed.
The bomb killed 29 people and unborn twins people in August 1998 Omagh bomb and many more were injured. The Real IRA was responsible for the atrocity.
Some of the money donated soon was held back by the trustees for infrastructure and grassroots development.
It is also intended to help those whose education was disrupted through injury or caring for victims but who need money to return to their studies.
By Michael McHugh
THE chairman of Omagh District Council hopes to convene a meeting between relatives of those who died in the Omagh bombing and the Omagh Hardship Fund set up to help those affected by the blast.
The development follows lobbying by the Omagh Self-Help Group which is concerned at the allocation of donations worth �200,000 made by groups and individuals from around the world after the 1998 bomb.
Trustees of the Omagh Hardship Fund are inviting applications for money from people across the province who were affected by the carnage.
Omagh families met with the chairman and chief executive of Omagh District Council in the council offices last week.
They feel they have not been adequately consulted by the Omagh Fund trustees, who gave a substantial sum to the Omagh-based Northern Ireland Centre for Trauma and Transformation and other important projects.
"We met with the chief executive and the chairman of the council and left them in no doubt that we were very unhappy," Michael Gallagher said.
"Those who allocate the money are not going to make people grovel and we asked the council to ask the Omagh Fund to have a meeting with the families so we could air our concerns to them directly.
"We asked for all four trustees to be present because we have never had a meeting with all of them at the same time."
Bids for the money will be open to people from those across the province, as well as Madrid and Buncrana,
and up to �5,000 will be available to each group.
Recommendations for awards will be made by local community and religious groups including the Forum in Omagh for Community Understanding and Support (FOCUS) and the Northern Ireland Centre for Trauma and Transformation.
Omagh Council chairman Allan Rainey said he had listened to the concerns of the Omagh relatives and had instructed his officials to invite the Omagh Fund trustees to a meeting.
"As far as I am aware a letter has been sent or will soon be sent to the trustees inviting them to this meeting," he confirmed.
The bomb killed 29 people and unborn twins people in August 1998 Omagh bomb and many more were injured. The Real IRA was responsible for the atrocity.
Some of the money donated soon was held back by the trustees for infrastructure and grassroots development.
It is also intended to help those whose education was disrupted through injury or caring for victims but who need money to return to their studies.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0924
Published Date: 13-Apr-04
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