TOWN STIRS BACK TO LIFE
Town stirs back to life
By BEN QUINN
THE people of Omagh yesterday cautiously returned to their devastated town centre as the task began of restoring a semblance of normality to the shattered community.
The mood was sombre as hundreds milled about Market Street, the scene of the Real IRA car bomb explosion which killed 28 and injured 220 men, women and children.
The scene of the blast remained closed-off by a huge corrugated metal fence, the buildings behind it now razed to the ground.
But most shops capable of opening were trading, among them Watterson's Drapers, which lost three shop assistants Geraldine Breslin (43), Veda Short (56) and 49-year-old Ann McCombe.
The town's Chamber of Commerce had urged retailers to open up saying it was essential to bring life back to the town and help it move on from the tragic events of the past nine days.
But the shutters remained down on a small number of businesses who still felt uneasy about commercial activity.
There was little in the way of trade.
"The shops may be open but who wants to buy wallpaper on a day like this,'' one woman shrugged.
Business and civic leaders met to discuss ways of rebuilding the shattered town.
Arthur Sandford, the chief executive of Manchester city council, was with Omagh traders at council offices to share his experiences of restoring Manchester following an IRA bomb explosion.
Members of the Chamber of Commerce from Portadown, Co Armagh, and Banbridge, Co Down a target of 'Real IRA' bomb explosions earlier this year were also present.
Mr Sandford said later: "I put some practical suggestions that may not have come from elsewhere as to how businesses can be helped, how you need to re-publicise your town.'' Manchester City Council could offer no financial assistance, but Mr Sandford added: "What I think we can do is provide moral help and support.
"I know from the Manchester experience that just to know that people are thinking about you and that there is an awful lot of goodwill towards you can be an enormous help.''
Omagh Traders Association chairman Roy Allen said the meeting had been useful but produced no real answers.
"The main problem is obviously guilt. We feel that maybe we shouldn't be open, but at the same time the general idea round town is that everybody wants us to be open.
"We're there to give a service to our customers and we will continue to give it, second to none.''
Mr Allen insisted that every effort would be made to prevent businesses from going under. "If this bomb closes down one more business, then we as a society will have failed that business person,'' he said.
The husband of a woman killed in the explosion said he was glad to see the shops reopening.
Lawrence Rush, whose wife Libby (57), died in her Pine Emporium shop, said it showed the resilience of the people of Omagh.
"They have shown the bombers 'what have you gained from this?'
"You have gained death and heartache in Omagh but we're still staying and what you're doing is completely useless and obscene.''
Mr Rush said the enormity of what had happened was only beginning to sink in. He broke down in tears as he said: "Her home and her children, that was her heaven.
"Those children who were killed my wife would have willingly given her life rather than have them die.''
He said a fitting memorial to his wife would be a reprieve for Omagh's threatened hospital, the Tyrone County.
"There is no way my wife would have been helped having to drive 50 miles to the nearest hospital,'' he said.
The United States ambassador to Ireland, Jean Kennedy-Smith, travelled from Dublin to Omagh council offices where she signed the book of condolence before joining traders at their meeting.
Afterwards she said she believed the Omagh bomb would be the last atrocity because of wonderful things that had come out of the past week. She believed it would end the violence for good.
She had earlier visited relatives of the three Co Donegal boys killed in the explosion.
She said President Clinton remained "very concerned'' about the people of Omagh and people throughout the world had expressed their sympathy.
"I hope the people have felt the tremendous concern there is,'' she added.
By BEN QUINN
THE people of Omagh yesterday cautiously returned to their devastated town centre as the task began of restoring a semblance of normality to the shattered community.
The mood was sombre as hundreds milled about Market Street, the scene of the Real IRA car bomb explosion which killed 28 and injured 220 men, women and children.
The scene of the blast remained closed-off by a huge corrugated metal fence, the buildings behind it now razed to the ground.
But most shops capable of opening were trading, among them Watterson's Drapers, which lost three shop assistants Geraldine Breslin (43), Veda Short (56) and 49-year-old Ann McCombe.
The town's Chamber of Commerce had urged retailers to open up saying it was essential to bring life back to the town and help it move on from the tragic events of the past nine days.
But the shutters remained down on a small number of businesses who still felt uneasy about commercial activity.
There was little in the way of trade.
"The shops may be open but who wants to buy wallpaper on a day like this,'' one woman shrugged.
Business and civic leaders met to discuss ways of rebuilding the shattered town.
Arthur Sandford, the chief executive of Manchester city council, was with Omagh traders at council offices to share his experiences of restoring Manchester following an IRA bomb explosion.
Members of the Chamber of Commerce from Portadown, Co Armagh, and Banbridge, Co Down a target of 'Real IRA' bomb explosions earlier this year were also present.
Mr Sandford said later: "I put some practical suggestions that may not have come from elsewhere as to how businesses can be helped, how you need to re-publicise your town.'' Manchester City Council could offer no financial assistance, but Mr Sandford added: "What I think we can do is provide moral help and support.
"I know from the Manchester experience that just to know that people are thinking about you and that there is an awful lot of goodwill towards you can be an enormous help.''
Omagh Traders Association chairman Roy Allen said the meeting had been useful but produced no real answers.
"The main problem is obviously guilt. We feel that maybe we shouldn't be open, but at the same time the general idea round town is that everybody wants us to be open.
"We're there to give a service to our customers and we will continue to give it, second to none.''
Mr Allen insisted that every effort would be made to prevent businesses from going under. "If this bomb closes down one more business, then we as a society will have failed that business person,'' he said.
The husband of a woman killed in the explosion said he was glad to see the shops reopening.
Lawrence Rush, whose wife Libby (57), died in her Pine Emporium shop, said it showed the resilience of the people of Omagh.
"They have shown the bombers 'what have you gained from this?'
"You have gained death and heartache in Omagh but we're still staying and what you're doing is completely useless and obscene.''
Mr Rush said the enormity of what had happened was only beginning to sink in. He broke down in tears as he said: "Her home and her children, that was her heaven.
"Those children who were killed my wife would have willingly given her life rather than have them die.''
He said a fitting memorial to his wife would be a reprieve for Omagh's threatened hospital, the Tyrone County.
"There is no way my wife would have been helped having to drive 50 miles to the nearest hospital,'' he said.
The United States ambassador to Ireland, Jean Kennedy-Smith, travelled from Dublin to Omagh council offices where she signed the book of condolence before joining traders at their meeting.
Afterwards she said she believed the Omagh bomb would be the last atrocity because of wonderful things that had come out of the past week. She believed it would end the violence for good.
She had earlier visited relatives of the three Co Donegal boys killed in the explosion.
She said President Clinton remained "very concerned'' about the people of Omagh and people throughout the world had expressed their sympathy.
"I hope the people have felt the tremendous concern there is,'' she added.
Further Information
Publisher: IRISH INDEPENDENT
Ref: II/115
Published Date: 25-Aug-98
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