THE VICTIMS
The victims
Compiled by Julie Toudic
AVRIL MONAGHAN
Avril (30) was heavily pregnant with twins when she was killed in the bomb explosion. With the twins' birth just a month away, Avril and her husband had hoped to soon be celebrating two christenings in the church. Instead, hundreds of mourners including her three children, all
under 5 years of age, followed her coffin for Requiem Mass at St. Macartan's Church in Aughadarragh, near Auger.
She was buried in the adjoining cemetery with her daughter Maura. Family friend Fr Gerard McAleer said: "There are two coffins today, but four funerals."
Avril had gone into Omagh on the Saturday with her mother Mary Grimes, and her 18-month-old daughter, Maura, to do some shopping. They were in SD Kells when the bomb exploded.
MAURA MONAGHAN
Maura was the youngest victim of the Omagh bombing. She was only 18 months old when she was killed in the blast. She was in Omagh shopping with her mother and grandmother at the time of the explosion. The parish priest, Fr Lawrence Dawson, said: "Maura was just a
beautiful curly-haired angel who was loved by everyone." Avril and Maura's coffins were carried side-by-side from the family home in Springtown Road to the local chapel. Her small white coffin was placed in the same grave as her mother.
BREDA DEVINE
Baby Breda was only 21-months-old when she was killed in the Omagh bomb atrocity. She was in getting new shoes because she was going to be a flower girl at her uncle's wedding a week later. Once the bomb exploded, Breda was missing for over half-an-hour before she was found among the rubble. The coroner's report showed that she died almost immediately from head injuries and suffered no pain. Breda's mum Tracey was unable to attend the funeral at St. Mary's Church, Aughabrack. She was lying in a Belfast Hospital with 60 per cent burns and was fighting for her life. She never saw her husband Paul carry the tiny white coffin from the church to the grave nearby.
MARY GRIMES
Mary (65) had called to her daughter Avril on August 15 so they could attend Mass for the Feast of the Assumption. Later, they went to Omagh to do some shopping. Mary was found dead along with six others in SD Kells shop - close to the site of the explosion. A neighbour said: "She was a typical farmer's wife. She worked very hard and was always very nice." Her husband and 11 children followed the cortege from their family home in Beragh to the Church of the Immaculate Conception where she was buried.
ELIZABETH RUSH
Elizabeth (57) was killed after leaving the family's business in Omagh to see what all the commotion was about. After the bomb, Laurence Rush had described his wife as much more than just his wife. She was his soulmate, his sister, his daughter and his mother all rolled into one.
Laurence walked beside his wife's coffin as it was removed from their home in Michael Street to St. Mary's Church, Drumragh. He did not have the strength to carry her. Hundreds of people packed the roads surrounding the church. At the funeral, the parish priest, Fr. Michael
Keaveney said: "Libby represented what was finest in Omagh. She was caring, warm and friendly. She was a good mother. Laurence has lost a good life companion."
Compiled by Julie Toudic
AVRIL MONAGHAN
Avril (30) was heavily pregnant with twins when she was killed in the bomb explosion. With the twins' birth just a month away, Avril and her husband had hoped to soon be celebrating two christenings in the church. Instead, hundreds of mourners including her three children, all
under 5 years of age, followed her coffin for Requiem Mass at St. Macartan's Church in Aughadarragh, near Auger.
She was buried in the adjoining cemetery with her daughter Maura. Family friend Fr Gerard McAleer said: "There are two coffins today, but four funerals."
Avril had gone into Omagh on the Saturday with her mother Mary Grimes, and her 18-month-old daughter, Maura, to do some shopping. They were in SD Kells when the bomb exploded.
MAURA MONAGHAN
Maura was the youngest victim of the Omagh bombing. She was only 18 months old when she was killed in the blast. She was in Omagh shopping with her mother and grandmother at the time of the explosion. The parish priest, Fr Lawrence Dawson, said: "Maura was just a
beautiful curly-haired angel who was loved by everyone." Avril and Maura's coffins were carried side-by-side from the family home in Springtown Road to the local chapel. Her small white coffin was placed in the same grave as her mother.
BREDA DEVINE
Baby Breda was only 21-months-old when she was killed in the Omagh bomb atrocity. She was in getting new shoes because she was going to be a flower girl at her uncle's wedding a week later. Once the bomb exploded, Breda was missing for over half-an-hour before she was found among the rubble. The coroner's report showed that she died almost immediately from head injuries and suffered no pain. Breda's mum Tracey was unable to attend the funeral at St. Mary's Church, Aughabrack. She was lying in a Belfast Hospital with 60 per cent burns and was fighting for her life. She never saw her husband Paul carry the tiny white coffin from the church to the grave nearby.
MARY GRIMES
Mary (65) had called to her daughter Avril on August 15 so they could attend Mass for the Feast of the Assumption. Later, they went to Omagh to do some shopping. Mary was found dead along with six others in SD Kells shop - close to the site of the explosion. A neighbour said: "She was a typical farmer's wife. She worked very hard and was always very nice." Her husband and 11 children followed the cortege from their family home in Beragh to the Church of the Immaculate Conception where she was buried.
ELIZABETH RUSH
Elizabeth (57) was killed after leaving the family's business in Omagh to see what all the commotion was about. After the bomb, Laurence Rush had described his wife as much more than just his wife. She was his soulmate, his sister, his daughter and his mother all rolled into one.
Laurence walked beside his wife's coffin as it was removed from their home in Michael Street to St. Mary's Church, Drumragh. He did not have the strength to carry her. Hundreds of people packed the roads surrounding the church. At the funeral, the parish priest, Fr. Michael
Keaveney said: "Libby represented what was finest in Omagh. She was caring, warm and friendly. She was a good mother. Laurence has lost a good life companion."
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0312
Published Date: 14-Aug-99
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