RELATIVES FACING HUGE TRAUMA AFTER BOMB
Relatives face huge trauma after bomb
By Nevin Farrell
RELATIVES of the Omagh bomb dead, and others who witnessed the distressing scenes following Saturday's blast, have been
experiencing extreme trauma, Victim Support has said.
The group's chief executive Oliver Wilkinson said they have skilled personnel in place at Omagh health centre dealing with referrals passed on by GPs and the social services.
He said: "We are dealing with witnesses of the traumatic events of Saturday. They are very distraught and going through a range of emotions.
"Some are asking 'why am I alive and the person with me was killed?', while others are reacting to the sights of bodies and bits of bodies and the sense of hopelessness.
"We are trying to provide an immediate service and hope that by doing that we may link people up with groups like CRUSE who deal with bereavement."
Victim Support are taking out adverts in newspapers in the Omagh area which say: 'To the people affected by the bomb in Omagh you may
need to talk, you don't have to talk now but as and when you want to we're here for you'.
They say that Victim Support offers practical help, information and 'someone to talk to' while they point out that the group is an 'independent, free and confidential service working for the victims of crime'.
Victim Support volunteers from across Northern Ireland have travelled to Omagh.
Mr Wilkinson said that much of their work of providing support started in Omagh leisure centre on Saturday night, where dozens flocked to a makeshift incident centre.
"We spoke to many people there, giving them a cup of tea and the like," he added.
Mr Wilkinson said that the scale of the Omagh tragedy was hard to take in.
"Every tragedy is big for every victim but we are running to try and get as much done in Omagh. We expect to be here for some time," he added.
Victim Support are available at Omagh health centre from 10am to 5pm each day. They can be contacted in Enniskillen on (01365) 322475 or at Strabane on (01504) 382492.
By Nevin Farrell
RELATIVES of the Omagh bomb dead, and others who witnessed the distressing scenes following Saturday's blast, have been
experiencing extreme trauma, Victim Support has said.
The group's chief executive Oliver Wilkinson said they have skilled personnel in place at Omagh health centre dealing with referrals passed on by GPs and the social services.
He said: "We are dealing with witnesses of the traumatic events of Saturday. They are very distraught and going through a range of emotions.
"Some are asking 'why am I alive and the person with me was killed?', while others are reacting to the sights of bodies and bits of bodies and the sense of hopelessness.
"We are trying to provide an immediate service and hope that by doing that we may link people up with groups like CRUSE who deal with bereavement."
Victim Support are taking out adverts in newspapers in the Omagh area which say: 'To the people affected by the bomb in Omagh you may
need to talk, you don't have to talk now but as and when you want to we're here for you'.
They say that Victim Support offers practical help, information and 'someone to talk to' while they point out that the group is an 'independent, free and confidential service working for the victims of crime'.
Victim Support volunteers from across Northern Ireland have travelled to Omagh.
Mr Wilkinson said that much of their work of providing support started in Omagh leisure centre on Saturday night, where dozens flocked to a makeshift incident centre.
"We spoke to many people there, giving them a cup of tea and the like," he added.
Mr Wilkinson said that the scale of the Omagh tragedy was hard to take in.
"Every tragedy is big for every victim but we are running to try and get as much done in Omagh. We expect to be here for some time," he added.
Victim Support are available at Omagh health centre from 10am to 5pm each day. They can be contacted in Enniskillen on (01365) 322475 or at Strabane on (01504) 382492.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0081
Published Date: 19-Aug-98
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