SMELL OF DEATH DESCENDED ON TOWN AFTER EXPLOSION
Smell of Death' descended on town after explosion
By DOMINIC CUNNINGHAM
BUS driver Michael McNally who ferried badly injured, victims to hospital described how a "smell of deaths" descended on Omagh moments after the massive explosion. As he helped; the rescue operation, Mr McNally said it was a nightmare scenario he never expected to witness in his home town.
"While carrying people, you could feel the warmth of their blood coming through your clothes. People were screaming in pain as I drove along. As I went up to the front of Tyrone County Hospital and went over the ramps people were screaming and you just wanted to wake up from this nightmare," he said.
Mr McNally, from Omagh, said when he heard where the bomb had gone off he knew immediately there would be a large number of casualties. "I thought 'surely to God not there where all the people are standing. When I got there people were hanging out of cars and the place was a total wreck," added the Ulsterbus driver.
"People were digging at the buildings trying to pull people out and others were just wandering down staring with blood coming from their heads, legs, arms, from everywhere. It was total devastation.
He saw people who were bleeding badly help carry others more seriously injured to the ambulances and then return to the site of the blast to continue the rescue operation.
"We did our best to get as many people into the bus and we were telling people they would be alright but what can you say in a situation like that," he said.
He told how one injured man kept repeating "Where is Laura, where is Laura" and two young Spanish girls were concerned about a friend.
"They were bleeding from the head and mouth and I was saying to them to get on the bus and I would take them to hospital but they could not understand what I was saying. But eventually they did get on," added Mr McNally.
"There really was a smell of death and I can still remember it and I am sure everyone else can as well."
By DOMINIC CUNNINGHAM
BUS driver Michael McNally who ferried badly injured, victims to hospital described how a "smell of deaths" descended on Omagh moments after the massive explosion. As he helped; the rescue operation, Mr McNally said it was a nightmare scenario he never expected to witness in his home town.
"While carrying people, you could feel the warmth of their blood coming through your clothes. People were screaming in pain as I drove along. As I went up to the front of Tyrone County Hospital and went over the ramps people were screaming and you just wanted to wake up from this nightmare," he said.
Mr McNally, from Omagh, said when he heard where the bomb had gone off he knew immediately there would be a large number of casualties. "I thought 'surely to God not there where all the people are standing. When I got there people were hanging out of cars and the place was a total wreck," added the Ulsterbus driver.
"People were digging at the buildings trying to pull people out and others were just wandering down staring with blood coming from their heads, legs, arms, from everywhere. It was total devastation.
He saw people who were bleeding badly help carry others more seriously injured to the ambulances and then return to the site of the blast to continue the rescue operation.
"We did our best to get as many people into the bus and we were telling people they would be alright but what can you say in a situation like that," he said.
He told how one injured man kept repeating "Where is Laura, where is Laura" and two young Spanish girls were concerned about a friend.
"They were bleeding from the head and mouth and I was saying to them to get on the bus and I would take them to hospital but they could not understand what I was saying. But eventually they did get on," added Mr McNally.
"There really was a smell of death and I can still remember it and I am sure everyone else can as well."
Further Information
Publisher: IRISH INDEPENDENT
Ref: II/038
Published Date: 18-Aug-98
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