ANGER AT MACKEY'S RETURN TO HOSPITAL
Anger at Mackey's return to hospital
By Seamus McKinney
WORK colleagues of Omagh 32 County Sovereignty Movement member Francie Mackey have objected to his return to the town's Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital.
Mr Mackey, a psychiatric nurse, returned to his position at the psychiatric hospital on Monday for the first time since the August 15 bombing which left 29 people dead in Omagh.
His return sparked an angry reaction from a number of his colleagues, some of whom contacted the Irish News.
One caller, who claimed he had been a "nursing practitioner" at the Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital for more than 20 years, said there was "great unease and disquiet that we have a fellow member of staff who refused to condemn the bombing immediately."
"He has come back to work in the past week and this has caused great disquiet with staff. Some of them are very reluctant to work with him," the caller said.
He said staff were also concerned that Mr Mackey would be coming into direct contact with patients who were being treated for stress, trauma and depression as a result of the Omagh bombing.
"Management are frantically trying to relocate him," he said.
The caller also claimed staff members were holding meetings to discuss the situation.
"They are expressing horror. One of our colleagues suffered in the bomb and was very lucky to survive - it is very, very difficult for us," he said.
But Mr Mackey said claims that he was opposed by his colleagues since returning to work were "totally untrue."
The Co Tyrone politician, a member of Omagh district council, said the claims made by callers were "totally unsubstantiated."
He also criticised the media, claiming they were attempting to personalise the situation.
On Tuesday of this week, Omagh council passed a motion of censure calling on Mr Mackey to resign his seat as a councillor and to fight a by-election.
The original proposal called on Mr Mackey to "do the honourable thing" in the aftermath of the Omagh bombing by the Real IRA which is believed to have political links with the 32 County Sovereignty Committee.
But a subsequent amendment by Sinn Fein called for Mr Mackey's resignation purely on the grounds that he had been elected as a member of Sinn Fein but left the party after the Good Friday agreement.
Following the council meeting on Tuesday evening, Independent Labour councillor John McLaughlin who moved the original motion expressed disappointment that his proposal was not carried.
Mr McLaughlin said the result of the Sinn Fein amendment - which was passed by five votes to 12 abstentions - was that Mr Mackey had been asked to resign because of internal party politics and not because of the Omagh bombing.
Despite the proposal, Mr Mackey refused to give up his council seat, claiming he was elected by the people of Omagh because he espoused peace through a British withdrawal from Ireland.
A spokeswoman for Mr Mackey's employers, the Sperrin Lakeland Trust, last night refused to comment on claims that the councillor faced opposition on his return to the Tyrone and Fermanagh hospital.
"I can only confirm that he is employed by the trust within the Tyrone and Fermanagh hospital site," she said.
By Seamus McKinney
WORK colleagues of Omagh 32 County Sovereignty Movement member Francie Mackey have objected to his return to the town's Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital.
Mr Mackey, a psychiatric nurse, returned to his position at the psychiatric hospital on Monday for the first time since the August 15 bombing which left 29 people dead in Omagh.
His return sparked an angry reaction from a number of his colleagues, some of whom contacted the Irish News.
One caller, who claimed he had been a "nursing practitioner" at the Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital for more than 20 years, said there was "great unease and disquiet that we have a fellow member of staff who refused to condemn the bombing immediately."
"He has come back to work in the past week and this has caused great disquiet with staff. Some of them are very reluctant to work with him," the caller said.
He said staff were also concerned that Mr Mackey would be coming into direct contact with patients who were being treated for stress, trauma and depression as a result of the Omagh bombing.
"Management are frantically trying to relocate him," he said.
The caller also claimed staff members were holding meetings to discuss the situation.
"They are expressing horror. One of our colleagues suffered in the bomb and was very lucky to survive - it is very, very difficult for us," he said.
But Mr Mackey said claims that he was opposed by his colleagues since returning to work were "totally untrue."
The Co Tyrone politician, a member of Omagh district council, said the claims made by callers were "totally unsubstantiated."
He also criticised the media, claiming they were attempting to personalise the situation.
On Tuesday of this week, Omagh council passed a motion of censure calling on Mr Mackey to resign his seat as a councillor and to fight a by-election.
The original proposal called on Mr Mackey to "do the honourable thing" in the aftermath of the Omagh bombing by the Real IRA which is believed to have political links with the 32 County Sovereignty Committee.
But a subsequent amendment by Sinn Fein called for Mr Mackey's resignation purely on the grounds that he had been elected as a member of Sinn Fein but left the party after the Good Friday agreement.
Following the council meeting on Tuesday evening, Independent Labour councillor John McLaughlin who moved the original motion expressed disappointment that his proposal was not carried.
Mr McLaughlin said the result of the Sinn Fein amendment - which was passed by five votes to 12 abstentions - was that Mr Mackey had been asked to resign because of internal party politics and not because of the Omagh bombing.
Despite the proposal, Mr Mackey refused to give up his council seat, claiming he was elected by the people of Omagh because he espoused peace through a British withdrawal from Ireland.
A spokeswoman for Mr Mackey's employers, the Sperrin Lakeland Trust, last night refused to comment on claims that the councillor faced opposition on his return to the Tyrone and Fermanagh hospital.
"I can only confirm that he is employed by the trust within the Tyrone and Fermanagh hospital site," she said.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0496
Published Date: 05-Nov-98
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