WEDDING JOY FOR BOMB SURVIVORS
Wedding joy for bomb survivors
By Seamus McKinney
STILL bearing some of the scars of last August's Omagh bombing, Donna Marie Keys married her fiance Gary McGillion on Saturday.
The couple were to marry last year, but their plans were shattered by the Real IRA bomb which claimed 29 lives, including that of her niece-to-be baby Breda Devine, the youngest of the victims.
At just 21 months, Breda was to have been flowergirl at their wedding, but the bomb stole her young life.
Gary suffered 35 per cent burns to his body in the blast and Donna Marie 65 per cent.
She was given a 50-50 chance of survival by doctors and at one stage was given the last rites.
But tremendous courage dragged her through the horrendous months of treatment.
On Saturday, Donna Marie and Gary put the horror of the past behind them at Omagh's Sacred Heart Church.
Hundreds of local people attended the ceremony, but nurses and other medical staff from the Tyrone and County hospital in Omagh and Belfast's Royal Victoria hospital were given places of honour. It was their skill and caring which pulled Donna Marie from death.
As she prepared for her special day - which was also her 23rd birthday -Donna Marie's father, Malachy said her recovery as a "miracle".
"I could have been mourning Donna Marie," he said.
And closing a tragic chapter in their lives, Donna Marie and Gary exchanged vows to begin a new life as man and wife.
By Seamus McKinney
STILL bearing some of the scars of last August's Omagh bombing, Donna Marie Keys married her fiance Gary McGillion on Saturday.
The couple were to marry last year, but their plans were shattered by the Real IRA bomb which claimed 29 lives, including that of her niece-to-be baby Breda Devine, the youngest of the victims.
At just 21 months, Breda was to have been flowergirl at their wedding, but the bomb stole her young life.
Gary suffered 35 per cent burns to his body in the blast and Donna Marie 65 per cent.
She was given a 50-50 chance of survival by doctors and at one stage was given the last rites.
But tremendous courage dragged her through the horrendous months of treatment.
On Saturday, Donna Marie and Gary put the horror of the past behind them at Omagh's Sacred Heart Church.
Hundreds of local people attended the ceremony, but nurses and other medical staff from the Tyrone and County hospital in Omagh and Belfast's Royal Victoria hospital were given places of honour. It was their skill and caring which pulled Donna Marie from death.
As she prepared for her special day - which was also her 23rd birthday -Donna Marie's father, Malachy said her recovery as a "miracle".
"I could have been mourning Donna Marie," he said.
And closing a tragic chapter in their lives, Donna Marie and Gary exchanged vows to begin a new life as man and wife.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0280
Published Date: 29-Mar-99
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