WE'LL NEVER FORGET THEM
We'll never forget them
Thousands pay their respects on 10th anniversary of atrocity
BY ADRIAN RUTHERFORD
newseditor@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
THE people of Omagh stood together in silent tribute yesterday, exactly 10 years to the day that their peaceful town was forever shattered by a terrorist car bomb.
Around 4,000 people packed Drumragh Avenue, adjacent to the town's new memorial garden, to remember the 29 men, women and children who died in the atrocity.
Politicians, church members and other dignitaries took part in the 45-minute service, although some relatives boycotted the event after a row over the wording on the memorial.
Others attending the ceremony included the Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness and Taoiseach Brian Cowan, along with senior members of the Northern Ireland Office, Spanish Government and the US Consul.
Irish President Mary McAleese and the Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, also sent messages of support.
Many stood in pouring rain for the short ceremony, which included the dedication of the new Garden of Light memorial.
The event got under way with a performance from the Omagh Waterford Peace Choir before a short speech from the Chief Executive of the local council, Daniel McSorley, who described the "cruel evil" which had stalked the town's streets on August 151998.
"Ordinary people were doing ordinary things on an ordinary day," he said. "In one fateful moment all this changed forever. Time stood still, futures were obliterated, lives were shattered, hearts were broken."
Those who died included three young boys on a day trip from Buncrana and greetings were ex-tended in Irish from Sinead McLaughlin, the head of the town's Irish language school, and in Spanish from Paula Helguero Mahon in memory of two Spanish victims.
At exactly 3.10pm, the time at which the 500lb car bomb exploded, a minute's silence was held in memory of those who died, before the giant television screens erected around the stage cut to Market Street, the scene of the explosion.
There a short statement, 'Bear in mind these dead' was read by Caroline Martin, who lost her sister Esther Gibson in the bombing, and translated into Irish and Spanish by relatives of Sean McLaughlin and Rocio Abad Ramon, who also died.
The guest speaker was former Lebanon hostage Terry Waite, who described the complete justice which the bombers who destroyed Omagh would never face.
"I know that every man, woman and child who has suffered deeply has in some measure to deal with the issues for themselves," he said. "Yes, there can be support groups and understanding helpers and criminal trials but at root the individual has to face the wound that has been inflicted on them."
Mr Waite said he stood in solidarity with those who had wept and mourned for the many victims of Omagh.
His address was followed by a shared dedication to peace which was led by the co-chairs of the Omagh Churches Forum, Monsignor Joe Donnelly and Rev William Seale.
As the ceremony drew to a close the screens again cut to Market Street where a lone piper, Drew McDermott, played a lament as young people from the Omagh Street Theatre scattered petals.
The memorial garden was officially opened by Martin McColgan, the chairman of Omagh District Council, before Sean O'Dwyer, the chairman of the Omagh Memorial Fund, switched on the heliostat.
A glass monument at Market Street, erected in memory of the bombing, was also unveiled by Rosemary Kelly, the chairperson of the Arts Council, for Northern Ireland.
The ceremony closed with a hymn and a prayer before families and guests proceeded to the garden to lay floral tributes.
A second, separate service will be held on Sunday, organised by families of those who died in the atrocity.
Thousands pay their respects on 10th anniversary of atrocity
BY ADRIAN RUTHERFORD
newseditor@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
THE people of Omagh stood together in silent tribute yesterday, exactly 10 years to the day that their peaceful town was forever shattered by a terrorist car bomb.
Around 4,000 people packed Drumragh Avenue, adjacent to the town's new memorial garden, to remember the 29 men, women and children who died in the atrocity.
Politicians, church members and other dignitaries took part in the 45-minute service, although some relatives boycotted the event after a row over the wording on the memorial.
Others attending the ceremony included the Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness and Taoiseach Brian Cowan, along with senior members of the Northern Ireland Office, Spanish Government and the US Consul.
Irish President Mary McAleese and the Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, also sent messages of support.
Many stood in pouring rain for the short ceremony, which included the dedication of the new Garden of Light memorial.
The event got under way with a performance from the Omagh Waterford Peace Choir before a short speech from the Chief Executive of the local council, Daniel McSorley, who described the "cruel evil" which had stalked the town's streets on August 151998.
"Ordinary people were doing ordinary things on an ordinary day," he said. "In one fateful moment all this changed forever. Time stood still, futures were obliterated, lives were shattered, hearts were broken."
Those who died included three young boys on a day trip from Buncrana and greetings were ex-tended in Irish from Sinead McLaughlin, the head of the town's Irish language school, and in Spanish from Paula Helguero Mahon in memory of two Spanish victims.
At exactly 3.10pm, the time at which the 500lb car bomb exploded, a minute's silence was held in memory of those who died, before the giant television screens erected around the stage cut to Market Street, the scene of the explosion.
There a short statement, 'Bear in mind these dead' was read by Caroline Martin, who lost her sister Esther Gibson in the bombing, and translated into Irish and Spanish by relatives of Sean McLaughlin and Rocio Abad Ramon, who also died.
The guest speaker was former Lebanon hostage Terry Waite, who described the complete justice which the bombers who destroyed Omagh would never face.
"I know that every man, woman and child who has suffered deeply has in some measure to deal with the issues for themselves," he said. "Yes, there can be support groups and understanding helpers and criminal trials but at root the individual has to face the wound that has been inflicted on them."
Mr Waite said he stood in solidarity with those who had wept and mourned for the many victims of Omagh.
His address was followed by a shared dedication to peace which was led by the co-chairs of the Omagh Churches Forum, Monsignor Joe Donnelly and Rev William Seale.
As the ceremony drew to a close the screens again cut to Market Street where a lone piper, Drew McDermott, played a lament as young people from the Omagh Street Theatre scattered petals.
The memorial garden was officially opened by Martin McColgan, the chairman of Omagh District Council, before Sean O'Dwyer, the chairman of the Omagh Memorial Fund, switched on the heliostat.
A glass monument at Market Street, erected in memory of the bombing, was also unveiled by Rosemary Kelly, the chairperson of the Arts Council, for Northern Ireland.
The ceremony closed with a hymn and a prayer before families and guests proceeded to the garden to lay floral tributes.
A second, separate service will be held on Sunday, organised by families of those who died in the atrocity.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT10An/36
Published Date: 16-Aug-08
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