LIFFORD AREA MOURNS FORMER RESIDENT WHO DIED IN OMAGH BOMB
Lifford area mourns former resident who died in Omagh bomb
A GRIEF stricken Omagh man who lost his wife of 25 years to the Omagh bomb laid her to rest on Thursday.
The coffin of local woman Ann McCombe, formerly from Ballindrait (outside Lifford), was carried by her husband Stanley and their sons 18 year old Colan and 22 year old Clive on Thursday.
The 49 year old Omagh mother died with two of her work colleagues, Geraldine Breslin and Veda Short, after they were caught up in the explosion whilst on a late lunch break.
On Thursday a private service was held in the McCombe family home at Summerhill Park before the funeral service in Mountjoy Presbyterian Church, where Anne had been a chorister.
Minister of Mountjoy, Rev Ian Mairs, described Anne as a genuinely bright, positive and happy character.
"Ann had a radiant beauty that was not dependent on her natural looks, or the tasteful way she dressed or on the distinct way in which she always wore her hair.
"No, Ann had what Peter described as "the ageless beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit which is of the greatest value in God's sight.
"When that bomb blew Ann McCombe off her feet last Saturday afternoon- it blew her safely into the everlasting arms of her everloving Heavenly Father, where we believe she remains at peace today.
Reverend Mairs said the bomb was an "offence against our community and it has evoked a powerful response from our community.
"Undoubtedly designed to drive a wedge through this community, I believe time alone will show that this was the decisive act in unleashing a fierce determination from the people of Omagh to stand together as a community.
"I believe, as never before, there exists a corporate will to work together to build a new community under the mantle of the new political structures which the vast majority of decent, God fearing, peace loving people of this island of Ireland have voted for."
Of the perpetrators of the atrocity he said "They will one day have to stand in the presence of the Holy God and facing the consuming fire of his righteousness account for every life they have taken, for every limb that has been lost, for every pain they have inflicted. May God have mercy on them."
A GRIEF stricken Omagh man who lost his wife of 25 years to the Omagh bomb laid her to rest on Thursday.
The coffin of local woman Ann McCombe, formerly from Ballindrait (outside Lifford), was carried by her husband Stanley and their sons 18 year old Colan and 22 year old Clive on Thursday.
The 49 year old Omagh mother died with two of her work colleagues, Geraldine Breslin and Veda Short, after they were caught up in the explosion whilst on a late lunch break.
On Thursday a private service was held in the McCombe family home at Summerhill Park before the funeral service in Mountjoy Presbyterian Church, where Anne had been a chorister.
Minister of Mountjoy, Rev Ian Mairs, described Anne as a genuinely bright, positive and happy character.
"Ann had a radiant beauty that was not dependent on her natural looks, or the tasteful way she dressed or on the distinct way in which she always wore her hair.
"No, Ann had what Peter described as "the ageless beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit which is of the greatest value in God's sight.
"When that bomb blew Ann McCombe off her feet last Saturday afternoon- it blew her safely into the everlasting arms of her everloving Heavenly Father, where we believe she remains at peace today.
Reverend Mairs said the bomb was an "offence against our community and it has evoked a powerful response from our community.
"Undoubtedly designed to drive a wedge through this community, I believe time alone will show that this was the decisive act in unleashing a fierce determination from the people of Omagh to stand together as a community.
"I believe, as never before, there exists a corporate will to work together to build a new community under the mantle of the new political structures which the vast majority of decent, God fearing, peace loving people of this island of Ireland have voted for."
Of the perpetrators of the atrocity he said "They will one day have to stand in the presence of the Holy God and facing the consuming fire of his righteousness account for every life they have taken, for every limb that has been lost, for every pain they have inflicted. May God have mercy on them."
Further Information
Publisher: DERRY PEOPLE DONEGAL NEWS
Ref: DPDN/038
Published Date: 28-Aug-98
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