SICK HOAX CALL PUTS TOWN AT A SANDSTILL
Sick hoax call puts town at a standstill
By Martin Anderson
THE PEOPLE of Omagh became the victims of a sick bomb hoaxer at the weekend for the second week running.
The town was brought to a standstill on Saturday when telephoned bomb warnings were made to two businesses in the Market Street area.
Terrified shoppers were evacuated from the area after the warnings were given without code words shortly before 4pm.
Alan Rainey, deputy chair of Omagh district council, had just finished meeting Linfield supporters who had brought wreaths and a donation for the Omagh Memorial Fund when he heard about the scare.
He said: 'The people who did this are sick, to say the least. I was at Omagh Town's football ground whenever tbe news came through. My whole being just ran cold.
"I had just met with Linfield supporters who laid wreaths in town and made a donation to the fund. It was a very uplifting experience.
"No sooner had I met them than I was told we had another bomb scare in the town.
"As I travelled from the football ground I saw people standing in huddles on the outskirts of the town.
"One lady was hysterical, that is the only way to describe it. Her husband was still in the town because he is an invalid and couldn't get out of their car.
"Those who are orchestrating this are sick. Their minds are really sick and they are evil.
"We had the children back to school and business was starting to get back to some kind of normality when this was thrust upon us again. It is just unbelievable."
Mr Rainey also told of the shocked reaction of survivors in Altnagelvin hospital when he told them what had happened during a visit on Saturday night. It just brings it all back for them." he said. "They could hardly believe what I was telling them.
The Market Street area was sealed of for more than two hours before the warnings were declared hoaxes at around 6.20pm.
Barry McElduff, Sinn Fein assembly member for west Tyrone, said: "If those who are engaged in this perverse activity can be reached by any kind of rational appeal my call would be for them to stop immediately.
"I regard it as a very disturbing and bewildering development, I myself was contacted today by a number of people shopping in the town on Saturday and they're lost for words
They have had a very frightening experience. The people of Omagh need a complete break from this type of experience and need time and space to rebuild and to grieve. Last Sunday a hoaxer phoned Samaritans claiming a bomb had been left near the courthouse - a sick reference to the original misleading warning on August 15.
Terrified worshippers fled from church services at the Sacred Heart Church and St Columba's - many who had been evacuated on the day of the real bomb.
Independent councillor Paddy McGowan said at the time: "People said this was sick, but I said that these people were not sick, they were plain evil.
Even to mention the word bomb in the town of Omagh is too much."
Last Sunday's scare came as the family and friends of the bomb's 29th victim, Sean McGrath (61), prepared to bury him.
By Martin Anderson
THE PEOPLE of Omagh became the victims of a sick bomb hoaxer at the weekend for the second week running.
The town was brought to a standstill on Saturday when telephoned bomb warnings were made to two businesses in the Market Street area.
Terrified shoppers were evacuated from the area after the warnings were given without code words shortly before 4pm.
Alan Rainey, deputy chair of Omagh district council, had just finished meeting Linfield supporters who had brought wreaths and a donation for the Omagh Memorial Fund when he heard about the scare.
He said: 'The people who did this are sick, to say the least. I was at Omagh Town's football ground whenever tbe news came through. My whole being just ran cold.
"I had just met with Linfield supporters who laid wreaths in town and made a donation to the fund. It was a very uplifting experience.
"No sooner had I met them than I was told we had another bomb scare in the town.
"As I travelled from the football ground I saw people standing in huddles on the outskirts of the town.
"One lady was hysterical, that is the only way to describe it. Her husband was still in the town because he is an invalid and couldn't get out of their car.
"Those who are orchestrating this are sick. Their minds are really sick and they are evil.
"We had the children back to school and business was starting to get back to some kind of normality when this was thrust upon us again. It is just unbelievable."
Mr Rainey also told of the shocked reaction of survivors in Altnagelvin hospital when he told them what had happened during a visit on Saturday night. It just brings it all back for them." he said. "They could hardly believe what I was telling them.
The Market Street area was sealed of for more than two hours before the warnings were declared hoaxes at around 6.20pm.
Barry McElduff, Sinn Fein assembly member for west Tyrone, said: "If those who are engaged in this perverse activity can be reached by any kind of rational appeal my call would be for them to stop immediately.
"I regard it as a very disturbing and bewildering development, I myself was contacted today by a number of people shopping in the town on Saturday and they're lost for words
They have had a very frightening experience. The people of Omagh need a complete break from this type of experience and need time and space to rebuild and to grieve. Last Sunday a hoaxer phoned Samaritans claiming a bomb had been left near the courthouse - a sick reference to the original misleading warning on August 15.
Terrified worshippers fled from church services at the Sacred Heart Church and St Columba's - many who had been evacuated on the day of the real bomb.
Independent councillor Paddy McGowan said at the time: "People said this was sick, but I said that these people were not sick, they were plain evil.
Even to mention the word bomb in the town of Omagh is too much."
Last Sunday's scare came as the family and friends of the bomb's 29th victim, Sean McGrath (61), prepared to bury him.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0385
Published Date: 14-Sep-98
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