NEW BABY A SYMBOL OF HOPE
New baby a 'symbol of hope'
By MELISSA KITE
A YOUNG mother who has given birth after narrowly escaping death in the Omagh bombing said yesterday she wanted her daughter to be a symbol of new hope for the North. "I hope she can grow up and be safe,'' said Nicola Emery, (21).
Cradling her 7lb 6oz baby daughter, described as "a ray of light in the darkness'' by hospital staff, she said she wanted more than anything to see her grow up in a world free of violence. "I feel so happy that she's alright.
"I hope she can grow up and there will be no violence or terrorism. I just want her to be safe,'' said Nicola, who suffered minor cuts to her legs in the blast.
Miss Emery, who gave birth on Friday, said she had been terrified she would lose her baby after she was caught in the blast which killed 28 and badly injured many more, including her mother Valerie.
Nicola, a Protestant and her partner Michael Mulholland, (17), a Catholic, had been out shopping with her mother and her cousin when the bomb went off.
Cradling her sleeping baby who has not yet been named in the maternity ward of the South Tyrone Hospital in Dungannon, she said: "I was worried for the baby straight away. I didn't know what to think. I was worrying about myself and my mum and my boyfriend and my cousin who was also there and my baby.''
But the happiness was tinged with thoughts of Avril Monaghan, who was killed in the blast and had been due to give birth to twins in the same hospital within the next few weeks.
"It must be so hard for the family. Our heart goes out to them,'' said Michael, who came from the same village as Avril, Clogher and knew her.
But he said he hoped his child would grow up in a different world. "I hope that the wee girl can grow up without any violence, without bombs and can be safe. We will tell her what happened and how special she is.''
Doctors and midwives at the hospital described the child as "a ray of light in our darkness''. Senior consultant Ian Hunter, who has worked there for 15 years, said: "All babies are special but in these terrible circumstances this baby is even more special.
"It's a chink of light in the darkness."
By MELISSA KITE
A YOUNG mother who has given birth after narrowly escaping death in the Omagh bombing said yesterday she wanted her daughter to be a symbol of new hope for the North. "I hope she can grow up and be safe,'' said Nicola Emery, (21).
Cradling her 7lb 6oz baby daughter, described as "a ray of light in the darkness'' by hospital staff, she said she wanted more than anything to see her grow up in a world free of violence. "I feel so happy that she's alright.
"I hope she can grow up and there will be no violence or terrorism. I just want her to be safe,'' said Nicola, who suffered minor cuts to her legs in the blast.
Miss Emery, who gave birth on Friday, said she had been terrified she would lose her baby after she was caught in the blast which killed 28 and badly injured many more, including her mother Valerie.
Nicola, a Protestant and her partner Michael Mulholland, (17), a Catholic, had been out shopping with her mother and her cousin when the bomb went off.
Cradling her sleeping baby who has not yet been named in the maternity ward of the South Tyrone Hospital in Dungannon, she said: "I was worried for the baby straight away. I didn't know what to think. I was worrying about myself and my mum and my boyfriend and my cousin who was also there and my baby.''
But the happiness was tinged with thoughts of Avril Monaghan, who was killed in the blast and had been due to give birth to twins in the same hospital within the next few weeks.
"It must be so hard for the family. Our heart goes out to them,'' said Michael, who came from the same village as Avril, Clogher and knew her.
But he said he hoped his child would grow up in a different world. "I hope that the wee girl can grow up without any violence, without bombs and can be safe. We will tell her what happened and how special she is.''
Doctors and midwives at the hospital described the child as "a ray of light in our darkness''. Senior consultant Ian Hunter, who has worked there for 15 years, said: "All babies are special but in these terrible circumstances this baby is even more special.
"It's a chink of light in the darkness."
Further Information
Publisher: IRISH INDEPENDENT
Ref: II/098
Published Date: 22-Aug-98
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.