THREE GENERATIONS OF ONE FAMILY JOIN THE LIST OF BLAST VICTIMS
Three generations of one family join the list of blast victims
By EUGENE MOLONEY in Omagh
THREE generations of one family were among the victims of the horrific bombing.
A pregnant mother aged 29 who was expecting twins in just eight weeks time was one of those to die, along with her 18-month-old daughter and 65-year-old mother.
Mary Grimes, her married daughter Avril Monaghan and her granddaughter Maura Monaghan had been in Omagh on a shopping trip when they caught the full force of the blast.
Last night at the Monaghan's home in Aughadarra about five miles from the Co Tyrone town of Augher and close to the border relatives and friends came to pay their respects.
It was a similar scene at the Grimes' family home in Beragh, about 20 miles away.
Widowers Michael Monaghan (32) and Michael Grimes, who like his wife Mary is in his late 60s, were united in their grief. Mr Monaghan was too upset to talk to reporters yesterday and his brother Brendan (30) spoke to the Irish Independent outside the family home.
He said that Avril and her mother Mary Grimes had been more like sisters than mother and daughter in their relationship. Describing Avril he said: "She was just a very nice person.''
A shopping trip to get new shoes for her daughter's return to school also ended in tragedy for a Tyrone mother of four.
Mena Skelton (39), from the village of Drumquin, eight miles from Omagh, was killed outright in the blast which injured her 12-year-old daughter. She had travelled to Omagh with husband Kevin and daughters Tracey (15), Paula (19) and Shauna (12) to begin "back to school" shopping.
Yesterday her husband a GAA official spoke of losing his wife of 20 years in Saturday's Omagh Carnival carnage.
Mr Skelton, Tyrone hurling fixtures secretary, wept as he recalled the hours of the day he would never forget.
Mr Skelton was in Mr G's Store while the rest of his family shopped in S D Kells literally feet from where the bomb was planted. He was coming out of the store when the bomb went off.
"I didn't know where they were. We went to what was left of Kells's window. And there she was, my wife, lying on the floor with her clothes blown away. I thought I saw her shoes lying under the rubble. I don't know.
"I tried to get her pulse but I couldn't and then two policemen grabbed me and took me away.''
"I'm as good an Irishman as the next but this is awful. Don't tell me these ones are doing this for something. I'll never get over it.''
Yesterday, the predominantly Catholic village of Drumquin was struggling to come to terms with its grief.
By EUGENE MOLONEY in Omagh
THREE generations of one family were among the victims of the horrific bombing.
A pregnant mother aged 29 who was expecting twins in just eight weeks time was one of those to die, along with her 18-month-old daughter and 65-year-old mother.
Mary Grimes, her married daughter Avril Monaghan and her granddaughter Maura Monaghan had been in Omagh on a shopping trip when they caught the full force of the blast.
Last night at the Monaghan's home in Aughadarra about five miles from the Co Tyrone town of Augher and close to the border relatives and friends came to pay their respects.
It was a similar scene at the Grimes' family home in Beragh, about 20 miles away.
Widowers Michael Monaghan (32) and Michael Grimes, who like his wife Mary is in his late 60s, were united in their grief. Mr Monaghan was too upset to talk to reporters yesterday and his brother Brendan (30) spoke to the Irish Independent outside the family home.
He said that Avril and her mother Mary Grimes had been more like sisters than mother and daughter in their relationship. Describing Avril he said: "She was just a very nice person.''
A shopping trip to get new shoes for her daughter's return to school also ended in tragedy for a Tyrone mother of four.
Mena Skelton (39), from the village of Drumquin, eight miles from Omagh, was killed outright in the blast which injured her 12-year-old daughter. She had travelled to Omagh with husband Kevin and daughters Tracey (15), Paula (19) and Shauna (12) to begin "back to school" shopping.
Yesterday her husband a GAA official spoke of losing his wife of 20 years in Saturday's Omagh Carnival carnage.
Mr Skelton, Tyrone hurling fixtures secretary, wept as he recalled the hours of the day he would never forget.
Mr Skelton was in Mr G's Store while the rest of his family shopped in S D Kells literally feet from where the bomb was planted. He was coming out of the store when the bomb went off.
"I didn't know where they were. We went to what was left of Kells's window. And there she was, my wife, lying on the floor with her clothes blown away. I thought I saw her shoes lying under the rubble. I don't know.
"I tried to get her pulse but I couldn't and then two policemen grabbed me and took me away.''
"I'm as good an Irishman as the next but this is awful. Don't tell me these ones are doing this for something. I'll never get over it.''
Yesterday, the predominantly Catholic village of Drumquin was struggling to come to terms with its grief.
Further Information
Publisher: IRISH INDEPENDENT
Ref: II/037
Published Date: 17-Aug-98
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