SHOPS TO STAY CLOSED
Shops to stay closed
By Tony Bailie
DOZENS of businesses in Omagh which were undamaged by last weekend's bomb will stay closed today because their staff are among the dead and injured.
Michael Gaine, the president of the town's Chamber of Commerce, said while it was vital that shops begin to reopen, many would be unable to.
"Our problem is three fold; some businesses will not open because of physical damage, others because their staff are dead or injured, and others because they just do not have the will to do so," he said.
Mr Gaine estimated there were nearly 60 "ground floor" businesses, mostly shops, in the town's commercial centre of Market Street, where the bomb exploded, and neighbouring High Street.
In addition, many other businesses, such as accountants and solicitors, operated above these commercial premises.
Although High Street was largely untouched by the explosion, many people who worked there are among the dead and injured.
As well as the 28 dead, 78 are still being treated in hospital, many of whom are town centre employees.
Another 130 have been released from hospital, but some of these are still recovering at home from their injuries, and all are still trying to come to terms with the emotional trauma.
Mr Gaine said Omagh had suffered bomb attacks before and like other towns had always striven to return to normal as quick as possible, but no town has ever before suffered such a massive loss of life.
He said: "I know there are some people who say they just do not want to reopen again and that is an understandable emotion, but some of us will open and I believe the rest will follow our example."
Mr Gaine said it was essential the businesses begin to reopen, not only to try and restore normality to Omagh, but also because people's livelihoods depended on it.
"No matter how great the tragedy, there must come a point when people start to rebuild and try to return to some sort of normality - there is almost a moral obligation on business owners and staff to begin that process today."
By Tony Bailie
DOZENS of businesses in Omagh which were undamaged by last weekend's bomb will stay closed today because their staff are among the dead and injured.
Michael Gaine, the president of the town's Chamber of Commerce, said while it was vital that shops begin to reopen, many would be unable to.
"Our problem is three fold; some businesses will not open because of physical damage, others because their staff are dead or injured, and others because they just do not have the will to do so," he said.
Mr Gaine estimated there were nearly 60 "ground floor" businesses, mostly shops, in the town's commercial centre of Market Street, where the bomb exploded, and neighbouring High Street.
In addition, many other businesses, such as accountants and solicitors, operated above these commercial premises.
Although High Street was largely untouched by the explosion, many people who worked there are among the dead and injured.
As well as the 28 dead, 78 are still being treated in hospital, many of whom are town centre employees.
Another 130 have been released from hospital, but some of these are still recovering at home from their injuries, and all are still trying to come to terms with the emotional trauma.
Mr Gaine said Omagh had suffered bomb attacks before and like other towns had always striven to return to normal as quick as possible, but no town has ever before suffered such a massive loss of life.
He said: "I know there are some people who say they just do not want to reopen again and that is an understandable emotion, but some of us will open and I believe the rest will follow our example."
Mr Gaine said it was essential the businesses begin to reopen, not only to try and restore normality to Omagh, but also because people's livelihoods depended on it.
"No matter how great the tragedy, there must come a point when people start to rebuild and try to return to some sort of normality - there is almost a moral obligation on business owners and staff to begin that process today."
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0174
Published Date: 24-Aug-98
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