PRIEST DESCRIBES SCENES OF TERROR
Priests describe scenes of terror
By Brendan Anderson
TWO Co Tyrone Catholic priests home on holiday told last night of being caught up in the horror of the Omagh massacre.
Both priests last night were exhausted and emotionally drained after spending almost 24 hours at Tyrone County Hospital and later at Omagh Leisure Centre which had been commandeered as an emergency incident centre.
Father Eddie Deeney, who works in South Africa, said he was at the back of the buildings when the bomb went off.
"I walked to the front to see what damage was done, presuming everyone had been cleared out of the area. I then saw everybody running, some with blood on their faces, screaming and shouting and looking for people. There was utter consternation, people lying on pavements crying.
"I walked down another 30 yards and there were at least six bodies lying there on the road. The bomb had burst the water mains and there was water flowing over them. The police had tried to cover them. We prayed for them and gave general absolution to anyone who was there."
Fr Deeney said he and others grabbed shelving and boards from the blasted buildings and used them as makeshift stretchers to move the injured off the road ready to be ferried to hospital.
"At that stage we were concentrating on the injured, attempting to get them to the hospital. We arrived at the hospital at the same time as Fr Donal Gillespie. We were there all yesterday (Saturday) evening and here at the leisure centre until this morning." The men stayed with grieving relatives and others awaiting news of family members until 5am yesterday. After a short break,they returned and witnessed heart-breaking scenes as husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters were called to a side room to be told of yet another death.
"People were just numbed, they could hardly talk. So many people just did not know, they were waiting for news and at the same time, hoping they would not get it. Some were so angry they could not even cry."
Hardened journalists, including some who had covered the worst tragedies of the past 30 years fought back tears as little clusters of relatives hugged and comforted each other. Fr Donal Gillespie, a native of Omagh, fought to control his emotions as he told of driving through the town as the bomb went off. He said he was driving out of Abbey Street when the explosion ripped through the heart of the town. He drove to his family home to let relatives know he was safe and returned to the scene to help.
"I met an old friend, Fr Eddie Deeney, who was home on holiday from South Africa. We went out the hospital and moved around the wards helping as best we could and giving spiritual aid."
Fr Gillespie said they then travelled to the leisure centre to comfort relatives.
"Some of the families that we had been with the previous night received word that their family member was dead."
By Brendan Anderson
TWO Co Tyrone Catholic priests home on holiday told last night of being caught up in the horror of the Omagh massacre.
Both priests last night were exhausted and emotionally drained after spending almost 24 hours at Tyrone County Hospital and later at Omagh Leisure Centre which had been commandeered as an emergency incident centre.
Father Eddie Deeney, who works in South Africa, said he was at the back of the buildings when the bomb went off.
"I walked to the front to see what damage was done, presuming everyone had been cleared out of the area. I then saw everybody running, some with blood on their faces, screaming and shouting and looking for people. There was utter consternation, people lying on pavements crying.
"I walked down another 30 yards and there were at least six bodies lying there on the road. The bomb had burst the water mains and there was water flowing over them. The police had tried to cover them. We prayed for them and gave general absolution to anyone who was there."
Fr Deeney said he and others grabbed shelving and boards from the blasted buildings and used them as makeshift stretchers to move the injured off the road ready to be ferried to hospital.
"At that stage we were concentrating on the injured, attempting to get them to the hospital. We arrived at the hospital at the same time as Fr Donal Gillespie. We were there all yesterday (Saturday) evening and here at the leisure centre until this morning." The men stayed with grieving relatives and others awaiting news of family members until 5am yesterday. After a short break,they returned and witnessed heart-breaking scenes as husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters were called to a side room to be told of yet another death.
"People were just numbed, they could hardly talk. So many people just did not know, they were waiting for news and at the same time, hoping they would not get it. Some were so angry they could not even cry."
Hardened journalists, including some who had covered the worst tragedies of the past 30 years fought back tears as little clusters of relatives hugged and comforted each other. Fr Donal Gillespie, a native of Omagh, fought to control his emotions as he told of driving through the town as the bomb went off. He said he was driving out of Abbey Street when the explosion ripped through the heart of the town. He drove to his family home to let relatives know he was safe and returned to the scene to help.
"I met an old friend, Fr Eddie Deeney, who was home on holiday from South Africa. We went out the hospital and moved around the wards helping as best we could and giving spiritual aid."
Fr Gillespie said they then travelled to the leisure centre to comfort relatives.
"Some of the families that we had been with the previous night received word that their family member was dead."
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0018
Published Date: 17-Aug-98
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