THOUSANDS IN TRIBUTE TO OMAGH DEAD
Thousands in tribute to Omagh dead
By Michael O'Toole in Omagh
THOUSANDS of people gathered to remember the victims of the Omagh bomb yesterday and heard an impassioned plea for politics to defeat the gun.
An estimated 10,000 people thronged the town centre as a commemoration service began for the 29 victims of the Real IRA bomb attack a year ago yesterday.
Among the crowd were some of the 350 people injured by the no-warning bomb, many of them still receiving treatment for their wounds.
The hour-long cross-community service began with a minutes silence at 3.10pm - the time the bomb ripped the heart out of the town.
The silence was observed by the crowd which stretched from the courthouse in the centre of town to the site of the bomb some 500 yards away in Market Street.
Among the crowd were Secretary of State Mo Mowlam, SDLP leader John Hume, Sinn Fein vice-president Pat Doherty and former secretary of state Lord Patrick Mayhew.
Special prayers were earlier said in the town's churches before the open-air service was held in the town centre which included prayers for peace.
Alan Rainey, the Ulster Unionist chairman of Omagh District Council, led prayers for the politicians currently trying to overcome the decommissioning impasse.
He said: "We remember at the close of this act of remembrance our community and political leaders and representatives and ask that you will grant them wisdom and sensitivity in their efforts to help us live at peace with one another."
SDLP leader John Hume said the huge crowd demonstrated that the people of Northern Ireland were demanding peace.
Mr Hume said: "This was a very powerful and moving day and it sent out a very powerful message to our whole country.
"People want lasting peace and stability.
"The powerful message that the victims of Omagh are sending is clear - violence in any shape or form has no role to play in solving the problems of our country.
"I think that the will of the people of Northern Ireland has been clearly expressed and it has been powerfully and clearly underlined by today's events in Omagh."
Former Northern Ireland secretary Lord Mayhew, who was staying with friends near Omagh and decided to attend the service, also paid tribute to the thousands of people who flooded into the streets of the town to remember the dead.
Lord Mayhew said: "I thought it was very moving to see thousands of people standing and taking part in this ceremony."
Before the service hundreds of people, many of them visibly upset, went to the memorial garden for the dead opposite the bomb site.
Hundreds of bouquets of flowers were placed there yesterday afternoon from around the world including Spain and Buncrana which were also mourning yesterday.
After the service, Donna-Marie McGillion, who suffered serious burns when caught by the blast while shopping for her wedding, described it as "very emotional, very moving".
By Michael O'Toole in Omagh
THOUSANDS of people gathered to remember the victims of the Omagh bomb yesterday and heard an impassioned plea for politics to defeat the gun.
An estimated 10,000 people thronged the town centre as a commemoration service began for the 29 victims of the Real IRA bomb attack a year ago yesterday.
Among the crowd were some of the 350 people injured by the no-warning bomb, many of them still receiving treatment for their wounds.
The hour-long cross-community service began with a minutes silence at 3.10pm - the time the bomb ripped the heart out of the town.
The silence was observed by the crowd which stretched from the courthouse in the centre of town to the site of the bomb some 500 yards away in Market Street.
Among the crowd were Secretary of State Mo Mowlam, SDLP leader John Hume, Sinn Fein vice-president Pat Doherty and former secretary of state Lord Patrick Mayhew.
Special prayers were earlier said in the town's churches before the open-air service was held in the town centre which included prayers for peace.
Alan Rainey, the Ulster Unionist chairman of Omagh District Council, led prayers for the politicians currently trying to overcome the decommissioning impasse.
He said: "We remember at the close of this act of remembrance our community and political leaders and representatives and ask that you will grant them wisdom and sensitivity in their efforts to help us live at peace with one another."
SDLP leader John Hume said the huge crowd demonstrated that the people of Northern Ireland were demanding peace.
Mr Hume said: "This was a very powerful and moving day and it sent out a very powerful message to our whole country.
"People want lasting peace and stability.
"The powerful message that the victims of Omagh are sending is clear - violence in any shape or form has no role to play in solving the problems of our country.
"I think that the will of the people of Northern Ireland has been clearly expressed and it has been powerfully and clearly underlined by today's events in Omagh."
Former Northern Ireland secretary Lord Mayhew, who was staying with friends near Omagh and decided to attend the service, also paid tribute to the thousands of people who flooded into the streets of the town to remember the dead.
Lord Mayhew said: "I thought it was very moving to see thousands of people standing and taking part in this ceremony."
Before the service hundreds of people, many of them visibly upset, went to the memorial garden for the dead opposite the bomb site.
Hundreds of bouquets of flowers were placed there yesterday afternoon from around the world including Spain and Buncrana which were also mourning yesterday.
After the service, Donna-Marie McGillion, who suffered serious burns when caught by the blast while shopping for her wedding, described it as "very emotional, very moving".
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0320
Published Date: 16-Aug-99
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.