BUNCRANA TO REMEMBER VICTIMS TEN YEARS ON
Buncrana to remember
victims ten years on
BY DECLAN MAGEE
The residents of a Donegal town will gather tomorrow night to member three of their own who were killed in the worst atrocity of the Troubles.
Buncrana's annual tribute to those killed in the Omagh bombing will mark the tenth anniversary of the bombing which killed 29 people including the mother of unborn twins.
A religious and candlelit vigil will be held at Knockalla to remember local boys James Barker (12), Oran Doherty (8), and Sean McLaughlin (8) who died in the explosion during an excursion to the Co. Tyrone market town.
Knockalla housing estate was the home of both Oran and Sean who lived just doors from each other.
The people of Buncrana will also be remembering Spanish exchange student Fernando Blasco Baselga (12) and the exchange group's leader Rocio Abad Ramos who also died on August 15 1998. Spanish students on this year's visit to Buncrana will also attend Friday evening's service.
The town's mayor, Dermot McLaughlin, will attend the Omagh District council's commemoration on Friday before attending the service in lnishowen. "It was a tragic day that is still in fresh in the minds of Buncrana people and the terrible day still casts a shadow over the town, he said.
"It does not seem like ten years ago and because of the circumstances it is still very fresh in the minds of the people of Buncrana, especially the families. It is still very raw the way that it happened, the fact that three local families were affected and two visitors to the town also died. It struck to the very fabric of Buncrana."
Like many people in Buncrana he said he will never forget the night the bodies of the young victims were returned to Buncrana, led by a Garda escort after the RUC had accompanied the three hearses to the border. "I remember the remains coming home very late and the streets lined with people with candles and the whole town was packed. But when the remains came the whole place was silent and the candles gave it a particular atmosphere. You could not get through Knockalla at all because there were thousands of people there. There was a shadow over Buncrana and it is still very raw."
Clr. McLaughlin said the fact that no one has been brought to account for the murders makes the anniversary even more difficult. "That does not help the situation and does not help the situation in Omagh."
Plans are also under way to further mark the tragedy with stain-glassed windows to be put up in Scoil Isagain in Buncrana. Stained glass windows will also be put up in Omagh, Madrid and also in Claudy where the nine victims of the 1972 Claudy bombing will be remembered.
victims ten years on
BY DECLAN MAGEE
The residents of a Donegal town will gather tomorrow night to member three of their own who were killed in the worst atrocity of the Troubles.
Buncrana's annual tribute to those killed in the Omagh bombing will mark the tenth anniversary of the bombing which killed 29 people including the mother of unborn twins.
A religious and candlelit vigil will be held at Knockalla to remember local boys James Barker (12), Oran Doherty (8), and Sean McLaughlin (8) who died in the explosion during an excursion to the Co. Tyrone market town.
Knockalla housing estate was the home of both Oran and Sean who lived just doors from each other.
The people of Buncrana will also be remembering Spanish exchange student Fernando Blasco Baselga (12) and the exchange group's leader Rocio Abad Ramos who also died on August 15 1998. Spanish students on this year's visit to Buncrana will also attend Friday evening's service.
The town's mayor, Dermot McLaughlin, will attend the Omagh District council's commemoration on Friday before attending the service in lnishowen. "It was a tragic day that is still in fresh in the minds of Buncrana people and the terrible day still casts a shadow over the town, he said.
"It does not seem like ten years ago and because of the circumstances it is still very fresh in the minds of the people of Buncrana, especially the families. It is still very raw the way that it happened, the fact that three local families were affected and two visitors to the town also died. It struck to the very fabric of Buncrana."
Like many people in Buncrana he said he will never forget the night the bodies of the young victims were returned to Buncrana, led by a Garda escort after the RUC had accompanied the three hearses to the border. "I remember the remains coming home very late and the streets lined with people with candles and the whole town was packed. But when the remains came the whole place was silent and the candles gave it a particular atmosphere. You could not get through Knockalla at all because there were thousands of people there. There was a shadow over Buncrana and it is still very raw."
Clr. McLaughlin said the fact that no one has been brought to account for the murders makes the anniversary even more difficult. "That does not help the situation and does not help the situation in Omagh."
Plans are also under way to further mark the tragedy with stain-glassed windows to be put up in Scoil Isagain in Buncrana. Stained glass windows will also be put up in Omagh, Madrid and also in Claudy where the nine victims of the 1972 Claudy bombing will be remembered.
Further Information
Publisher: DONEGAL DEMOCRAT
Ref: DOD10An/03
Published Date: 14-Aug-08
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