OMAGH SURVIVOR BETEAN IN PIRATE TERROR
Omagh survivor beaten in pirate terror
By Claire Regan
A TYRONE man who survived the Omagh bomb has escaped after he was held up and beaten by a gang of gun-wielding pirates on a remote island off Tanzania. Brian Heagney (26) was left traumatised after he and 23 other volunteers were ambushed as they began a diving trip on the island. He watched in horror as two of his friends, a man and a woman, were shot and wounded in front of him. The Greencastle's man's sister Shelly (20), said he was left "very badly shaken" by the ordeal.
"They were settling in to camp when Brian heard gunfire. He saw a gang of bandits armed with guns and machetes coming in to camp. Two of his friends were shot in front of him.
Thankfully, they both survived.
''Brian had a gun held to his head. He was also punched and kicked.
"They were then all told to line up and were then taken one by one into a hut. He told me he was terrified - he was sure they were all being taken in to be killed separately.
"But they just let him pass on through and stole his watch and money."
Brian, who is a keen and experienced diver, survived the Omagh bomb in 1998 when it exploded as he sat in a nearby car. He suffered cuts and burst ear drums.
"He managed to get out of the car and walk up Market Street where he saw the aftermath.
"What he saw that day was enough for him to cope with without having to watch two people being shot," Miss Heagney added. "Brian phoned our parents, Ann and Michael, at about 5am on Saturday to tell them what happened.
"He was really shaken up and very quiet but relieved to be alive. He couldn't believe he had come so close to death again.
"He's back on mainland Tanzania now and he's determined to carry on with the trip. Some of the other volunteers were flown home but he has decided to stay. We're expecting him back in September."
By Claire Regan
A TYRONE man who survived the Omagh bomb has escaped after he was held up and beaten by a gang of gun-wielding pirates on a remote island off Tanzania. Brian Heagney (26) was left traumatised after he and 23 other volunteers were ambushed as they began a diving trip on the island. He watched in horror as two of his friends, a man and a woman, were shot and wounded in front of him. The Greencastle's man's sister Shelly (20), said he was left "very badly shaken" by the ordeal.
"They were settling in to camp when Brian heard gunfire. He saw a gang of bandits armed with guns and machetes coming in to camp. Two of his friends were shot in front of him.
Thankfully, they both survived.
''Brian had a gun held to his head. He was also punched and kicked.
"They were then all told to line up and were then taken one by one into a hut. He told me he was terrified - he was sure they were all being taken in to be killed separately.
"But they just let him pass on through and stole his watch and money."
Brian, who is a keen and experienced diver, survived the Omagh bomb in 1998 when it exploded as he sat in a nearby car. He suffered cuts and burst ear drums.
"He managed to get out of the car and walk up Market Street where he saw the aftermath.
"What he saw that day was enough for him to cope with without having to watch two people being shot," Miss Heagney added. "Brian phoned our parents, Ann and Michael, at about 5am on Saturday to tell them what happened.
"He was really shaken up and very quiet but relieved to be alive. He couldn't believe he had come so close to death again.
"He's back on mainland Tanzania now and he's determined to carry on with the trip. Some of the other volunteers were flown home but he has decided to stay. We're expecting him back in September."
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0941
Published Date: 09-Jul-04
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