A FAMILY'S LIFE WRECKED IN SECONDS
A family's life wrecked in seconds
By Seamus McKinney
SECONDS after hearing his wife, Philomena was killed, Kevin Skelton, Ulster GAA referee stood in Omagh leisure centre In shock.
Married for 20 years, his life fell around him on Saturday as, with his three children and wife, Philomena (39), they were enjoying the carnival.
Philomena took the three children Into one shop and Kevin, a brother of Aiden Skelton, the former County Tyrone goalkeeper, was in a drapery shop next door.
Numbed with shock, he told the Irish News: "She's dead. I know she's dead. I was with her and I saw no sign of life in the shop. There was a policeman and I gave him a description of her and he went out to the army camp and I'm nearly 100 per cent sure it's her. I know myself she's dead."
Standing with cuts on his forehead, he recounted events:
"Shauna [his daughter) is away to Altnagelvin She's badly cut down the side of the face but it's not life-threatening.
"I was in Mr G's, the shop beside Kells. The door blew over the top of me as I came out. I came out as the bomb went off.
"She was in Kells and when I got into Kells after the bomb she was lying at the door covered in rubble.
"And I thought my two youngsters were with her and they were covered as well. The wee lassie that got cut must have went out that split second beforehand and got blew up the street.
"The other cuttie went down to the back of the shop. She was all right. And then there was a third cuttie. I couldn't get her either but she's all right. The rest of them are all safe. Thank God."
As he shook his head In disbelief, he commented: "I don't know what sort of animals they are. They're not animals at all. They're Just not worth talking about."
Kevin Skelton formally identified the body of his wife, Philomena yesterday morning. His daughter, Shauna is making a steady recovery after treatment for a broken jaw at Derry s Altnagelvin hospital.
By Seamus McKinney
SECONDS after hearing his wife, Philomena was killed, Kevin Skelton, Ulster GAA referee stood in Omagh leisure centre In shock.
Married for 20 years, his life fell around him on Saturday as, with his three children and wife, Philomena (39), they were enjoying the carnival.
Philomena took the three children Into one shop and Kevin, a brother of Aiden Skelton, the former County Tyrone goalkeeper, was in a drapery shop next door.
Numbed with shock, he told the Irish News: "She's dead. I know she's dead. I was with her and I saw no sign of life in the shop. There was a policeman and I gave him a description of her and he went out to the army camp and I'm nearly 100 per cent sure it's her. I know myself she's dead."
Standing with cuts on his forehead, he recounted events:
"Shauna [his daughter) is away to Altnagelvin She's badly cut down the side of the face but it's not life-threatening.
"I was in Mr G's, the shop beside Kells. The door blew over the top of me as I came out. I came out as the bomb went off.
"She was in Kells and when I got into Kells after the bomb she was lying at the door covered in rubble.
"And I thought my two youngsters were with her and they were covered as well. The wee lassie that got cut must have went out that split second beforehand and got blew up the street.
"The other cuttie went down to the back of the shop. She was all right. And then there was a third cuttie. I couldn't get her either but she's all right. The rest of them are all safe. Thank God."
As he shook his head In disbelief, he commented: "I don't know what sort of animals they are. They're not animals at all. They're Just not worth talking about."
Kevin Skelton formally identified the body of his wife, Philomena yesterday morning. His daughter, Shauna is making a steady recovery after treatment for a broken jaw at Derry s Altnagelvin hospital.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0040
Published Date: 17-Aug-98
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