OMAGH THE AFTERMATH
OMAGH - THE AFTERMATH
IN THE aftermath of Omagh with the pain and sense of loss settled in for the long haul and those who implemented it still walking the streets, there were, nevertheless, encouraging signs from the past eleven days.
First and foremost there was the coining together of a community to tend to the injured and bury the dead. Willing hands came to the rescue of the victims of whatever persuasion - there was a renewed sense of unity as the traditions rallied against the forces of evil.
On Saturday last the country as a whole came to a standstill at ten minutes past three to honour the dead and pray for peace. For those in Omagh and Buncrana and indeed in Spain, such sympathetic backing can only have helped as they attempt to struggle through the days ahead.
Much credit must go to the unselfish efforts of those involved in both the medical and security forces. Forgetting their own traumatic experiences, they became the real heroes of the bloody event along with the many members of the public who helped sift through the rubble to uncover the living and the dead.
We had the presence, too, of Unionist leader David Trimble at the funerals of the three young Donegal victims in Buncrana. Such a worthy gesture is another giant step in the road to healing the divisions between the two traditions.
It cannot be forgotten either that the Sinn Fein President. Gerry Adams and the party's Chief Negotiator. Martin McGuinness, were also among those present. To see them attending the burial of victims of Republican violence is to see significant progress from the dark, bitter days of the past.
The Governments, both Irish and British, have moved quickly to ensure there will be no sanctuary for those who carried out this atrocity and those who might consider that enough blood still hasn't been shed in the name of freedom.
There is the view that such draconian moves should have been Introduced many years ago when the troubles were at their height but did we, as a people, call for them? Did we. as a people, take to the streets in our thousands in protest? Or did fear and apathy hold us back when perhaps we should have been bringing our private views to a public platform?
At the weekend, we finally gathered forces to loudly proclaim that we want no more from those who see the gun and the bomb as the weapons of change.
Their day is past even if last Saturday week's events attempted to tell us a different story.
IN THE aftermath of Omagh with the pain and sense of loss settled in for the long haul and those who implemented it still walking the streets, there were, nevertheless, encouraging signs from the past eleven days.
First and foremost there was the coining together of a community to tend to the injured and bury the dead. Willing hands came to the rescue of the victims of whatever persuasion - there was a renewed sense of unity as the traditions rallied against the forces of evil.
On Saturday last the country as a whole came to a standstill at ten minutes past three to honour the dead and pray for peace. For those in Omagh and Buncrana and indeed in Spain, such sympathetic backing can only have helped as they attempt to struggle through the days ahead.
Much credit must go to the unselfish efforts of those involved in both the medical and security forces. Forgetting their own traumatic experiences, they became the real heroes of the bloody event along with the many members of the public who helped sift through the rubble to uncover the living and the dead.
We had the presence, too, of Unionist leader David Trimble at the funerals of the three young Donegal victims in Buncrana. Such a worthy gesture is another giant step in the road to healing the divisions between the two traditions.
It cannot be forgotten either that the Sinn Fein President. Gerry Adams and the party's Chief Negotiator. Martin McGuinness, were also among those present. To see them attending the burial of victims of Republican violence is to see significant progress from the dark, bitter days of the past.
The Governments, both Irish and British, have moved quickly to ensure there will be no sanctuary for those who carried out this atrocity and those who might consider that enough blood still hasn't been shed in the name of freedom.
There is the view that such draconian moves should have been Introduced many years ago when the troubles were at their height but did we, as a people, call for them? Did we. as a people, take to the streets in our thousands in protest? Or did fear and apathy hold us back when perhaps we should have been bringing our private views to a public platform?
At the weekend, we finally gathered forces to loudly proclaim that we want no more from those who see the gun and the bomb as the weapons of change.
Their day is past even if last Saturday week's events attempted to tell us a different story.
Further Information
Publisher: DONEGAL PEOPLE'S PRESS
Ref: DP/038
Published Date: 26-Aug-98
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