ANGER AT PM LOSING OMAGH BOMB VICTIM PHOTOS
Anger at PM losing Omagh victim photos
By Sharon O'Neill
Chief Reporter
OMAGH bomb relative Victor Barker has written to British Prime Minister Tony Blair voicing his outrage at the loss of photographs of his dead son.
James Barker (12) was among 29 people killed in the Real IRA attack on August 15 1998.
Last December the victim's solicitor father sent three photographs of his son after he had been killed to Mr Blair in the hope that the prime minister would encourage people within the republican community to come forward with any information about the bombing.
Mr Barker only learned that Downing Street had lost the photographs, his only copies, when he wrote to request their return despite already doing so in his original letter.
Downing Street has expressed its "sincere apologies" for the loss of the pictures but an incensed Mr Barker raised the issue again in a strongly-worded letter to the Prime Minister earlier this week.
So far no-one has been charged with murder and relatives have launched a civil action against those suspected of involvement in the murders.
Last night Mr Barker said the loss of the photographs had been extremely distressing for his family.
"I am particularly concerned as to where they are. My wife is down about it. It is typical of how the government has treated the families of Omagh," he said.
He added:"I don't believe we will ever know the truth about Omagh, not in my lifetime.
As well as the revelations surrounding the police investigation into the bombing, some relatives recently told of their ordeal during an examination by lawyers in their claim for compensation.
Minister Des Browne ordered Compensation Agency Lawyers not to view victims' scars until a review of the practice is carried out.
The move came after two Omagh bomb survivors described as "degrading and humiliating" an examination by lawyers.
Mary Ellis, who suffered shoulder, legs and ear injuries in the blast, recently recalled: "I went into this small room and stripped to my knickers and bra.
"All of a sudden I saw this drove of men coming through the door. One of the men pulled my bra over my shoulder down to my arm. I felt so bad that day I didn't want to go back."
By Sharon O'Neill
Chief Reporter
OMAGH bomb relative Victor Barker has written to British Prime Minister Tony Blair voicing his outrage at the loss of photographs of his dead son.
James Barker (12) was among 29 people killed in the Real IRA attack on August 15 1998.
Last December the victim's solicitor father sent three photographs of his son after he had been killed to Mr Blair in the hope that the prime minister would encourage people within the republican community to come forward with any information about the bombing.
Mr Barker only learned that Downing Street had lost the photographs, his only copies, when he wrote to request their return despite already doing so in his original letter.
Downing Street has expressed its "sincere apologies" for the loss of the pictures but an incensed Mr Barker raised the issue again in a strongly-worded letter to the Prime Minister earlier this week.
So far no-one has been charged with murder and relatives have launched a civil action against those suspected of involvement in the murders.
Last night Mr Barker said the loss of the photographs had been extremely distressing for his family.
"I am particularly concerned as to where they are. My wife is down about it. It is typical of how the government has treated the families of Omagh," he said.
He added:"I don't believe we will ever know the truth about Omagh, not in my lifetime.
As well as the revelations surrounding the police investigation into the bombing, some relatives recently told of their ordeal during an examination by lawyers in their claim for compensation.
Minister Des Browne ordered Compensation Agency Lawyers not to view victims' scars until a review of the practice is carried out.
The move came after two Omagh bomb survivors described as "degrading and humiliating" an examination by lawyers.
Mary Ellis, who suffered shoulder, legs and ear injuries in the blast, recently recalled: "I went into this small room and stripped to my knickers and bra.
"All of a sudden I saw this drove of men coming through the door. One of the men pulled my bra over my shoulder down to my arm. I felt so bad that day I didn't want to go back."
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0579
Published Date: 12-Oct-02
Related Images
