DROPPIN' WELL OWNER WELCOMES CEASEFIRE
Droppin' Well owner welcomes ceasefire
By Ciaran McGuigan
A BALLYKELLY bar owner whose sister was one of the victims of the bloodiest act in the INLA's history yesterday called on them to ensure their ceasefire remains permanent.
An INLA bomb ripped through the Droppin' Well Inn on December 6, 1982, killing 17 people.
The targets were off-duty soldiers from the nearby Shackleton barracks. But among the dead was 21 year-old Pat Cooke, who had been working in the family bar.
Her brother Peter Cooke remains outraged at the attack and bitter towards the bombers. But he has welcomed Saturday's pledge from the INLA leadership that they have entered into a ceasefire, although he remains doubtful that it will last.
"It's good that they have come out with that statement, but will they stuck to it? It's like locking the stable door when the horse has gone. But I hope they do keep to it - it will be great for everybody.
"If they put as much work into getting industry and jobs for the people as they do destroying the country it would be a great country to live in."
If the INLA ceasefire holds, the group's prisoners could be eligible for release under 'the Good Friday agreement - and according to Peter Cooke, this would be acceptable and worthwhile if the end result was peace
"What can you do about the prisoners?
There is one of them out under a new identity living in Dublin, the woman who planted the bomb here - the rest of them I don't know.
"But it doesn't matter what I think. The government is going to do whatever it thinks will bring peace. And if the releases bring peace and stop all the shootings and bombings I think it could be worthwhile.
"It will be hard to stomach having them on the streets but it all has to stop somehow."
Mr Cooke said he shared the hope of many that the Omagh bomb, the biggest atrocity in Northern Ireland's history, would be the last.
"It's just sad that Omagh had to bring this all to a head. But the need for peace is now stronger than ever but we have all paid a very high prices for it."
The Droppin Well Inn remained closed for about one year following the bomb.
Now the name has changed to simply The Well and it is a friendly and relaxed bar.
But Mr Cooke said some people who witnessed the INLA bomb have never been able to return.
"After that night some people will never come back because they are still scared. I meet them in the town and ask them to come out to one of the dances but they can't bring themselves to come back.
"I recently coaxed one woman into coming back to the pub for the first time but she wouldn't go into the bar. She stopped with me behind the bar for one drink, with a taxi waiting at the door, and she left with tears rolling down her face.
"The memory is still there, it is planted in my brain. Last Saturday brought it all back to me.
"For the people of Omagh it will get easier. Fingers crossed, the peace process will hopefully work."
By Ciaran McGuigan
A BALLYKELLY bar owner whose sister was one of the victims of the bloodiest act in the INLA's history yesterday called on them to ensure their ceasefire remains permanent.
An INLA bomb ripped through the Droppin' Well Inn on December 6, 1982, killing 17 people.
The targets were off-duty soldiers from the nearby Shackleton barracks. But among the dead was 21 year-old Pat Cooke, who had been working in the family bar.
Her brother Peter Cooke remains outraged at the attack and bitter towards the bombers. But he has welcomed Saturday's pledge from the INLA leadership that they have entered into a ceasefire, although he remains doubtful that it will last.
"It's good that they have come out with that statement, but will they stuck to it? It's like locking the stable door when the horse has gone. But I hope they do keep to it - it will be great for everybody.
"If they put as much work into getting industry and jobs for the people as they do destroying the country it would be a great country to live in."
If the INLA ceasefire holds, the group's prisoners could be eligible for release under 'the Good Friday agreement - and according to Peter Cooke, this would be acceptable and worthwhile if the end result was peace
"What can you do about the prisoners?
There is one of them out under a new identity living in Dublin, the woman who planted the bomb here - the rest of them I don't know.
"But it doesn't matter what I think. The government is going to do whatever it thinks will bring peace. And if the releases bring peace and stop all the shootings and bombings I think it could be worthwhile.
"It will be hard to stomach having them on the streets but it all has to stop somehow."
Mr Cooke said he shared the hope of many that the Omagh bomb, the biggest atrocity in Northern Ireland's history, would be the last.
"It's just sad that Omagh had to bring this all to a head. But the need for peace is now stronger than ever but we have all paid a very high prices for it."
The Droppin Well Inn remained closed for about one year following the bomb.
Now the name has changed to simply The Well and it is a friendly and relaxed bar.
But Mr Cooke said some people who witnessed the INLA bomb have never been able to return.
"After that night some people will never come back because they are still scared. I meet them in the town and ask them to come out to one of the dances but they can't bring themselves to come back.
"I recently coaxed one woman into coming back to the pub for the first time but she wouldn't go into the bar. She stopped with me behind the bar for one drink, with a taxi waiting at the door, and she left with tears rolling down her face.
"The memory is still there, it is planted in my brain. Last Saturday brought it all back to me.
"For the people of Omagh it will get easier. Fingers crossed, the peace process will hopefully work."
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0190
Published Date: 24-Aug-98
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