AHERN'S SADDEST DAY AS HE VISITS BOTS HOMES
Ahern's saddest he visits boys' home
By GEORGE JACKSON
TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern said yesterday events surrounding last Saturday's atrocity in Omagh were among the darkest of his term as Taoiseach. Mr Ahern was speaking after visiting the homes of the three young Buncrana boys who were among the 28 people killed. He also visited the primary school which two of the boys. Shaun McLaughlin and Oran Doherty attended. The third victim, 12-years-old James Barker, was a pupil at the Foyle and Londonderry Preparatory School in Derry.
Mr Ahern also spoke with several of the 30 Spanish exchange students in the town. The students are receiving counselling and are due to return home this week.
After visiting the house of James Barker's parents, Victor and Donna-Marie, Mr Ahern said he was extremely shocked and saddened. "Mr Barker was explaining to me why they had moved here. He was talking to me about the Good Friday Agreement and how they were so happy that that seemed as if it was the end of it all and saying that he probably would not have let his child go away at all, only that be felt that everything was happy and peaceful.
"They are devastated but he is very grateful to all the local people here. The family is really appreciative of the support they have got from the entire neighbourhood. They have said so many nice things about how people have treated them and it does show how evil an act it was.
"When you stand in a room with the body a young child who should be out playing on such a beautiful day, it brings home to you just what we are trying to deal with and how evil the people were behind all of this," he said
By GEORGE JACKSON
TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern said yesterday events surrounding last Saturday's atrocity in Omagh were among the darkest of his term as Taoiseach. Mr Ahern was speaking after visiting the homes of the three young Buncrana boys who were among the 28 people killed. He also visited the primary school which two of the boys. Shaun McLaughlin and Oran Doherty attended. The third victim, 12-years-old James Barker, was a pupil at the Foyle and Londonderry Preparatory School in Derry.
Mr Ahern also spoke with several of the 30 Spanish exchange students in the town. The students are receiving counselling and are due to return home this week.
After visiting the house of James Barker's parents, Victor and Donna-Marie, Mr Ahern said he was extremely shocked and saddened. "Mr Barker was explaining to me why they had moved here. He was talking to me about the Good Friday Agreement and how they were so happy that that seemed as if it was the end of it all and saying that he probably would not have let his child go away at all, only that be felt that everything was happy and peaceful.
"They are devastated but he is very grateful to all the local people here. The family is really appreciative of the support they have got from the entire neighbourhood. They have said so many nice things about how people have treated them and it does show how evil an act it was.
"When you stand in a room with the body a young child who should be out playing on such a beautiful day, it brings home to you just what we are trying to deal with and how evil the people were behind all of this," he said
Further Information
Publisher: IRISH INDEPENDENT
Ref: II/203
Published Date: 19-Aug-98
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