FERNANDO'S PHOTO COULD BE VITAL IN SEARCH FOR OMAGH BOMBERS
Fernando's photo could be vital in search for Omagh bombers
FERNANDO Blasco (12) who was killed in the Omagh bombing, left Gallagher's home at Porthaw in Buncrana in such a rush that fateful Saturday morning to catch the bus to the Ulster American Folk Park, that he forgot his camera.
It now appears that a disposable camera, bought by Fernando and found by the RUC at the scene of the bombing could be crucial in the search for the bombers. Police recovered and developed the film from the camera and launched a major poster campaign using the photograph of the
parked car which contained the bomb. It appears Fernando may have taken this photograph shortly before his death.
The poster shows the red Vauxhall Cavalier parked in Market Street in Omagh, before it exploded, killing twenty eight people. The RUC are hoping it will jog people's memories and help to bring the perpetrators to justice.
"We were in such a rush that morning. Fernando carried his camera with him every other Saturday when they went on a trip. It is quite likely that he bought a disposable camera at the Folk Park or in Omagh," Mrs Mary Gallagher said on Tuesday.
Fernando's brother, Juan Pablo (15) called to Mrs Gallagher's home on Sunday and she gave him his brother's camera. Juan Pablo is staying with a family in Clonmany as part of the same exchange programme.
"They are such brave children. Their sister Uki who suffered facial injuries in the Omagh blast is recovering well in Spain and we were all delighted to learn this week that her hearing will be fine," she added.
The Gallagher's together with Victor and Donna Marie Barker, parents of James (12), Mr John McLaughlin father of Shaun(12) and Mr Mickey Doherty, father of Oran(8) all made the journey to Omagh on Saturday for the prayer service that was attended by more than forty thousand people.
My memory of Omagh was of the previous Saturday night and Sunday morning. Omagh this Saturday was sad and silent, but it helped. It was good for us all to go together. We went early to see where the children died," Mr Gallagher said.
" A senior RUC man allowed us to walk down and two police men were sent ahead to open the gates for us. We had been told that the boys waited together in a doorway after the bomb warning was issued. There was only one doorway we saw where they would have waited together. I could just imagine them all excited saying wait until we get home to tell them about this, Mrs Gallagher added.
An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern assured the Buncrana families in Omagh on Saturday that he would continue to work hard to being a permanent peace.
The Chairman of Buncrana Urban District Council, Mr Jim Ferry, Chairman of the County Council. Mr Danny Harkin, County Manager Mr Michael McLoone travelled to Omagh on Saturday to represent Buncrana and Donegal. Father Shane Bradley CC Buncrana joined his father in his home town of Omagh,
Mary Gallagher spoke of the kindness people had shown towards her own family and the bereaved families,
On Sunday last a bus load of people travelled from Cork to the graveyard at St. Mary's Cockhill, to put flowers on the children' graves, wanting to show how much they cared.
Ms Sinead McLaughlin Principal of Scoil Iosagaii and Coordinator of the Spanish exchange programme in Buncrana also travelled to Omagh last Saturday.
"People have been so kind. You just felt so helpless in the face of such pain. There was always someone there to do the little things. People came from Slane, Sligo and so many other places. They telephoned us from all over the World, sent cards, flowers and letters. It helped to know that so many people cared," she said.
"The ties between Buncrana and Spain will grow stronger out of this terrible tragedy and the children who are due to return to Spain on Thursday will come back next year," Sinead added.
FERNANDO Blasco (12) who was killed in the Omagh bombing, left Gallagher's home at Porthaw in Buncrana in such a rush that fateful Saturday morning to catch the bus to the Ulster American Folk Park, that he forgot his camera.
It now appears that a disposable camera, bought by Fernando and found by the RUC at the scene of the bombing could be crucial in the search for the bombers. Police recovered and developed the film from the camera and launched a major poster campaign using the photograph of the
parked car which contained the bomb. It appears Fernando may have taken this photograph shortly before his death.
The poster shows the red Vauxhall Cavalier parked in Market Street in Omagh, before it exploded, killing twenty eight people. The RUC are hoping it will jog people's memories and help to bring the perpetrators to justice.
"We were in such a rush that morning. Fernando carried his camera with him every other Saturday when they went on a trip. It is quite likely that he bought a disposable camera at the Folk Park or in Omagh," Mrs Mary Gallagher said on Tuesday.
Fernando's brother, Juan Pablo (15) called to Mrs Gallagher's home on Sunday and she gave him his brother's camera. Juan Pablo is staying with a family in Clonmany as part of the same exchange programme.
"They are such brave children. Their sister Uki who suffered facial injuries in the Omagh blast is recovering well in Spain and we were all delighted to learn this week that her hearing will be fine," she added.
The Gallagher's together with Victor and Donna Marie Barker, parents of James (12), Mr John McLaughlin father of Shaun(12) and Mr Mickey Doherty, father of Oran(8) all made the journey to Omagh on Saturday for the prayer service that was attended by more than forty thousand people.
My memory of Omagh was of the previous Saturday night and Sunday morning. Omagh this Saturday was sad and silent, but it helped. It was good for us all to go together. We went early to see where the children died," Mr Gallagher said.
" A senior RUC man allowed us to walk down and two police men were sent ahead to open the gates for us. We had been told that the boys waited together in a doorway after the bomb warning was issued. There was only one doorway we saw where they would have waited together. I could just imagine them all excited saying wait until we get home to tell them about this, Mrs Gallagher added.
An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern assured the Buncrana families in Omagh on Saturday that he would continue to work hard to being a permanent peace.
The Chairman of Buncrana Urban District Council, Mr Jim Ferry, Chairman of the County Council. Mr Danny Harkin, County Manager Mr Michael McLoone travelled to Omagh on Saturday to represent Buncrana and Donegal. Father Shane Bradley CC Buncrana joined his father in his home town of Omagh,
Mary Gallagher spoke of the kindness people had shown towards her own family and the bereaved families,
On Sunday last a bus load of people travelled from Cork to the graveyard at St. Mary's Cockhill, to put flowers on the children' graves, wanting to show how much they cared.
Ms Sinead McLaughlin Principal of Scoil Iosagaii and Coordinator of the Spanish exchange programme in Buncrana also travelled to Omagh last Saturday.
"People have been so kind. You just felt so helpless in the face of such pain. There was always someone there to do the little things. People came from Slane, Sligo and so many other places. They telephoned us from all over the World, sent cards, flowers and letters. It helped to know that so many people cared," she said.
"The ties between Buncrana and Spain will grow stronger out of this terrible tragedy and the children who are due to return to Spain on Thursday will come back next year," Sinead added.
Further Information
Publisher: DERRY PEOPLE DONEGAL NEWS
Ref: DPDN/037
Published Date: 28-Aug-98
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