PART OF OMAGH DIED THAT AFTERNOON
Part of Omagh died that afternoon
BY ADRIAN RUTHERFORD
newseditor@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
THERE were so many people in Omagh yesterday, and every one had a story to tell.
No other event in 35 years of Northern Ireland's Troubles had affected so many people in so many different ways.
While 10 years has patched up the physical wounds, the mental scars from the blast will take much longer to heal.
Walking down Market Street yesterday, there were few people who had not been affected in some way by the horrific events of August 151998.
Some suffered more than others, but the pain and grief is just as intense a decade on.
Roy Kells was the proprietor of S.D. Kells clothes shop on Market Street. Twelve people inside the shop died in the bombing.
"There were a lot of lives lost that day," Mr Kells said. "There were 12 people in our shop who died and it is still very difficult for us to talk about it. None of the staff talk publicly about that day because they are still so traumatised by it."
For Dessie McFarland, who suffered facial injuries in the explosion, the terrible memories are as vivid today as they were 10 years ago.
"I was standing right beside it," he remembered. "It was terrifying and while 10 years have passed the memories are still very vivid and I'm still traumatised by what I saw that day.
"I was injured and suffered burns to my face, but the real injuries are mental ones than anything else. This week has been especially hard and I've had nightmares about the bomb. I've just not been well since."
Kieran McGlinn wasn't in Omagh when the bomb went off but his niece suffered minor injuries in the blast.
"It affected so many people in so many different ways," he said. "My niece was in Omagh that day and was slightly injured. A bit of metal hit her in the chest but she was okay. She was one of the lucky ones."
Part of Omagh itself also died that day, according to Karen McLaughlin, who heard the blast from her house on the outskirts of the town.
"It affected everybody and I don't think it's ever quite been the same around here," she said. "Our town died that day.
"I knew some people who were injured. Everyone knew someone who was caught up in it. There were just so many people who died or who were injured, in a way you couldn't be unaffected by what happened."
BY ADRIAN RUTHERFORD
newseditor@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
THERE were so many people in Omagh yesterday, and every one had a story to tell.
No other event in 35 years of Northern Ireland's Troubles had affected so many people in so many different ways.
While 10 years has patched up the physical wounds, the mental scars from the blast will take much longer to heal.
Walking down Market Street yesterday, there were few people who had not been affected in some way by the horrific events of August 151998.
Some suffered more than others, but the pain and grief is just as intense a decade on.
Roy Kells was the proprietor of S.D. Kells clothes shop on Market Street. Twelve people inside the shop died in the bombing.
"There were a lot of lives lost that day," Mr Kells said. "There were 12 people in our shop who died and it is still very difficult for us to talk about it. None of the staff talk publicly about that day because they are still so traumatised by it."
For Dessie McFarland, who suffered facial injuries in the explosion, the terrible memories are as vivid today as they were 10 years ago.
"I was standing right beside it," he remembered. "It was terrifying and while 10 years have passed the memories are still very vivid and I'm still traumatised by what I saw that day.
"I was injured and suffered burns to my face, but the real injuries are mental ones than anything else. This week has been especially hard and I've had nightmares about the bomb. I've just not been well since."
Kieran McGlinn wasn't in Omagh when the bomb went off but his niece suffered minor injuries in the blast.
"It affected so many people in so many different ways," he said. "My niece was in Omagh that day and was slightly injured. A bit of metal hit her in the chest but she was okay. She was one of the lucky ones."
Part of Omagh itself also died that day, according to Karen McLaughlin, who heard the blast from her house on the outskirts of the town.
"It affected everybody and I don't think it's ever quite been the same around here," she said. "Our town died that day.
"I knew some people who were injured. Everyone knew someone who was caught up in it. There were just so many people who died or who were injured, in a way you couldn't be unaffected by what happened."
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT10An/37
Published Date: 16-Aug-08
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