OMAGH WILL REPAIR AND BUILD BUT OMAGH WILL NEVER FORGET
Omagh will repair and rebuild but Omagh will never forget'
By Jim Fitzpatrick and James Stinson
THE small piece of white paper taped to the closed black steel shutters of Watterson's clothes shop said it all:
"These premises will remain closed until after the funerals of our three highly respected and totally dedicated members of staff - Mrs Geraldine Breslin, Mrs Anne McCombe and Mrs Veda Short -who died so tragically on Saturday 15th August 1998."
The note was signed by Tom and Maretta Watterson, the proprietors.
Businesses normally close for lunch, but the notes stuck to doors and windows across every shop in Omagh yesterday said nothing about reopening at two.
The only premises open were those supplying vital goods and services such as chemists, supermarkets and petrol stations - all other businesses in the town will remain firmly shut until the 28 dead are laid to rest. People walked the streets in Omagh yesterday, but they weren't shopping. The stuff of everyday life seemed a million miles away. Three days after the awful events of Saturday and a dazed silence and sense of unreality persists.
At the police cordon, people stared at floral tributes or left their own. They met on street corners and talked. Consoling each other, united in grief.
Behind the cordon, demolition experts moved in to clear rubble and tear down unsafe buildings. Tearing down in order to rebuild.
The same respect that left Omagh businesses closed yesterday will see them re-open next week. There may not be the appetite, but there is certainly the will.
The mood of the town's business community was summed up by Michael Gaine, president of the Omagh Chamber of Commerce and local restaurateur.
"The tragic events of Saturday have stunned our small community. There is hardly a family, a club or organisation in the Omagh area untouched by the killing and maiming of our relatives and friends. We cannot understand why our town was chosen for devastation, nor understand why its people were targeted.
"But we cannot allow those with nothing but hatred to offer to divide our community or break our spirit. Omagh will repair and rebuild, but Omagh will never be able to forget. Those with blood on their hands cannot defeat those with peace in their hearts and this attempt to divide a community will not succeed.
"In the coming days this community will weep and mourn the passing of families and friends. However, Omagh Chamber of Commerce is in total support of the government's policy for building peace and reconciliation throughout Northern Ireland. That is the only viable future for us all."
By Jim Fitzpatrick and James Stinson
THE small piece of white paper taped to the closed black steel shutters of Watterson's clothes shop said it all:
"These premises will remain closed until after the funerals of our three highly respected and totally dedicated members of staff - Mrs Geraldine Breslin, Mrs Anne McCombe and Mrs Veda Short -who died so tragically on Saturday 15th August 1998."
The note was signed by Tom and Maretta Watterson, the proprietors.
Businesses normally close for lunch, but the notes stuck to doors and windows across every shop in Omagh yesterday said nothing about reopening at two.
The only premises open were those supplying vital goods and services such as chemists, supermarkets and petrol stations - all other businesses in the town will remain firmly shut until the 28 dead are laid to rest. People walked the streets in Omagh yesterday, but they weren't shopping. The stuff of everyday life seemed a million miles away. Three days after the awful events of Saturday and a dazed silence and sense of unreality persists.
At the police cordon, people stared at floral tributes or left their own. They met on street corners and talked. Consoling each other, united in grief.
Behind the cordon, demolition experts moved in to clear rubble and tear down unsafe buildings. Tearing down in order to rebuild.
The same respect that left Omagh businesses closed yesterday will see them re-open next week. There may not be the appetite, but there is certainly the will.
The mood of the town's business community was summed up by Michael Gaine, president of the Omagh Chamber of Commerce and local restaurateur.
"The tragic events of Saturday have stunned our small community. There is hardly a family, a club or organisation in the Omagh area untouched by the killing and maiming of our relatives and friends. We cannot understand why our town was chosen for devastation, nor understand why its people were targeted.
"But we cannot allow those with nothing but hatred to offer to divide our community or break our spirit. Omagh will repair and rebuild, but Omagh will never be able to forget. Those with blood on their hands cannot defeat those with peace in their hearts and this attempt to divide a community will not succeed.
"In the coming days this community will weep and mourn the passing of families and friends. However, Omagh Chamber of Commerce is in total support of the government's policy for building peace and reconciliation throughout Northern Ireland. That is the only viable future for us all."
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0094
Published Date: 19-Aug-98
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