CHARLES PLEADS FOR AN END TO VIOLENCE
Charles pleads for an end to violence
By EUGENE MOLONEY in Omagh
PRINCE Charles yesterday delivered an impassioned plea for an end to terrorist violence in Northern Ireland.
During a visit to the devastated Co Tyrone town of Omagh he told how the bombing brought back memories of both the horrors of the Enniskillen bombing and the IRA murder of his uncle Lord Mountbatten.
During a town-centre walkabout the prince stopped to talk to locals and those who travelled from all over the North to see him and pay tribute to the dead.
In an emotion-filled moment Prince Charles told one store owner he was "so saddened'' at the bomb which killed so many and caused such devastation. When Patrick Mulcahy told the prince how he had three relatives in three different hospitals among them Kate Kelly (23), future bride of his son Brian the royal said: "I hope this will be the end of it. I pray this is the last bomb in Northern Ireland.''
FLOWERS FROM HIS ESTATE
The prince insisted he, rather than Queen Elizabeth, should travel to the North. And with him he brought a bunch of cornflowers he picked himself on his estate at Highgrove. He laid the blooms alongside bouquets left by Omagh people and visitors at the bridge just yards from where the bomb exploded.
Attached to the flowers was a card on which he had written 'With my deepest sympathy and heartfelt prayers: Charles.'
Stopping to talk for more than half an hour to several hundred who lined the route from the town hall along High Street, he later visited the bomb site and travelled to Tyrone County Hospital where 15 injured are still being treated. He spent more than 1and a half hours in the hospital, talking to staff, the victims and relatives. Afterwards, he broke with protocol to tell reporters how he felt.
Earlier, in High Street, he told the Irish Independent how he felt moved by a bombing he described as "a great tragedy.''
'ANGER' AT THE OUTRAGE
Looking visibly shaken by what he witnessed he stood just outside the hospital and spoke again of his feelings of anger at the outrage: "I remember only too well feeling deeply angered when my great-uncle Lord Mountbatten and other relations were blown to pieces 19 years ago. I remember so well feeling that, so I can understand a little some of the feelings perhaps of those who lost their loved ones on this occasion.
"Let us pray this time it will be the end to all the horror poor Ireland has had to suffer.''
Prince Charles said he had noticed it was out of such dreadful tragedies people gave of their best. Praising those who gave their time to save those caught up in the blast, the medical and emergency staff who dealt with the injured, and those who had lost members of their own families, he said the tragedy brought out "so many wonderful facets of humanity.''
Stopping to speak to those lining lined the route and conscious so many others had visited the town, he asked one woman whether she felt his visit would do any good.
Evelyn Mulligan (62) of Beragh, outside the town, first told the prince how two members of her local Woman's Institute, Olive Hawkes and Veda Short, were killed in the blast.
Added Mrs Mulligan: "He asked me if I thought his visit would do any good and I said Yes, it would raise people's morale.''
Earlier the prince, speaking at Lisanelly army barracks, said his heart had gone out to the RUC men who had attempted to save people. And he declared: "I feel so sorry for the poor young policemen who feel its their fault. I keep having to say it's not their fault.''
By EUGENE MOLONEY in Omagh
PRINCE Charles yesterday delivered an impassioned plea for an end to terrorist violence in Northern Ireland.
During a visit to the devastated Co Tyrone town of Omagh he told how the bombing brought back memories of both the horrors of the Enniskillen bombing and the IRA murder of his uncle Lord Mountbatten.
During a town-centre walkabout the prince stopped to talk to locals and those who travelled from all over the North to see him and pay tribute to the dead.
In an emotion-filled moment Prince Charles told one store owner he was "so saddened'' at the bomb which killed so many and caused such devastation. When Patrick Mulcahy told the prince how he had three relatives in three different hospitals among them Kate Kelly (23), future bride of his son Brian the royal said: "I hope this will be the end of it. I pray this is the last bomb in Northern Ireland.''
FLOWERS FROM HIS ESTATE
The prince insisted he, rather than Queen Elizabeth, should travel to the North. And with him he brought a bunch of cornflowers he picked himself on his estate at Highgrove. He laid the blooms alongside bouquets left by Omagh people and visitors at the bridge just yards from where the bomb exploded.
Attached to the flowers was a card on which he had written 'With my deepest sympathy and heartfelt prayers: Charles.'
Stopping to talk for more than half an hour to several hundred who lined the route from the town hall along High Street, he later visited the bomb site and travelled to Tyrone County Hospital where 15 injured are still being treated. He spent more than 1and a half hours in the hospital, talking to staff, the victims and relatives. Afterwards, he broke with protocol to tell reporters how he felt.
Earlier, in High Street, he told the Irish Independent how he felt moved by a bombing he described as "a great tragedy.''
'ANGER' AT THE OUTRAGE
Looking visibly shaken by what he witnessed he stood just outside the hospital and spoke again of his feelings of anger at the outrage: "I remember only too well feeling deeply angered when my great-uncle Lord Mountbatten and other relations were blown to pieces 19 years ago. I remember so well feeling that, so I can understand a little some of the feelings perhaps of those who lost their loved ones on this occasion.
"Let us pray this time it will be the end to all the horror poor Ireland has had to suffer.''
Prince Charles said he had noticed it was out of such dreadful tragedies people gave of their best. Praising those who gave their time to save those caught up in the blast, the medical and emergency staff who dealt with the injured, and those who had lost members of their own families, he said the tragedy brought out "so many wonderful facets of humanity.''
Stopping to speak to those lining lined the route and conscious so many others had visited the town, he asked one woman whether she felt his visit would do any good.
Evelyn Mulligan (62) of Beragh, outside the town, first told the prince how two members of her local Woman's Institute, Olive Hawkes and Veda Short, were killed in the blast.
Added Mrs Mulligan: "He asked me if I thought his visit would do any good and I said Yes, it would raise people's morale.''
Earlier the prince, speaking at Lisanelly army barracks, said his heart had gone out to the RUC men who had attempted to save people. And he declared: "I feel so sorry for the poor young policemen who feel its their fault. I keep having to say it's not their fault.''
Further Information
Publisher: IRISH INDEPENDENT
Ref: II/186
Published Date: 19-Aug-98
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