OMAGH VICTIMS STILL WAITING
Omagh victims 'still waiting'
VICTIMS of the Omagh bombing yesterday accused the British government of dragging its heels over compensation payments to those who were bereaved or injured.
Families who lost loved ones were still waiting despite a pledge to fast track payments, said the Omagh Victims Group.
The bomb, which ripped through the centre of Omagh in August 1998, killed 29 people, including a mother pregnant with twins, and injured hundreds more.
Victims' group chairman Michael Gallagher said the government had promised to make payments quickly.
But Mr Gallagher, who lost his son Aidan in the bombing, said: "Almost four years on we still have a substantial number of the families who still have not received compensation.
"We feel this is unbelievable given the fact that the government said at the time that there would be a fast track system put in place."
The Northern Ireland Office said it had made every effort to settle claims, particularly those of bereaved relatives, which where kept on "short review" and had been personally reviewed by the minister.
But a spokesman said that the Compensation Agency needed full information regarding loss of dependency and financial loss before and compensation could be paid out to victims and relatives.
"We have been pressing applicants' solicitors to provide this information and in all cases that are outstanding we are waiting on such information from applicants' professional representatives," said a spokesman.
He said it was not in anyone's interests to resolve the claims without having confirmation of the extern of the loss and, in the case of those seriously injured, confirmation that their medical condition had stabilised and that they had recovered to the fullest extent possible.
VICTIMS of the Omagh bombing yesterday accused the British government of dragging its heels over compensation payments to those who were bereaved or injured.
Families who lost loved ones were still waiting despite a pledge to fast track payments, said the Omagh Victims Group.
The bomb, which ripped through the centre of Omagh in August 1998, killed 29 people, including a mother pregnant with twins, and injured hundreds more.
Victims' group chairman Michael Gallagher said the government had promised to make payments quickly.
But Mr Gallagher, who lost his son Aidan in the bombing, said: "Almost four years on we still have a substantial number of the families who still have not received compensation.
"We feel this is unbelievable given the fact that the government said at the time that there would be a fast track system put in place."
The Northern Ireland Office said it had made every effort to settle claims, particularly those of bereaved relatives, which where kept on "short review" and had been personally reviewed by the minister.
But a spokesman said that the Compensation Agency needed full information regarding loss of dependency and financial loss before and compensation could be paid out to victims and relatives.
"We have been pressing applicants' solicitors to provide this information and in all cases that are outstanding we are waiting on such information from applicants' professional representatives," said a spokesman.
He said it was not in anyone's interests to resolve the claims without having confirmation of the extern of the loss and, in the case of those seriously injured, confirmation that their medical condition had stabilised and that they had recovered to the fullest extent possible.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0551
Published Date: 09-Apr-02
Related Images
There have been no images archived for this article.