FAMILIES GIVE APPROVAL FOR OMAGH BOMB FILM
Families give approval for Omagh bomb film
By Darran McCann
Tyrone correspondent
FAMILIES of the victims of the Omagh bomb gave their approval to a new film documenting their experiences at a special screening in Belfast last night.
The families saw Omagh, a new production made by the same team responsible for Bloody Sunday, twice yesterday.
The film concentrates on the story of Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden (21) was one of the 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, who died in the 1998 atrocity.
Mr Gallagher helped form and became a key spokesman for the Omagh Support and Self Help Group, made up of the victims' relatives.
"I hope this film will help bring our struggle to a wider audience who will get the message that hope comes out of despair," said Mr Gallagher as he arrived at the screening last night.
"I would like to think Omagh shows that in the midst of evil and wickedness, ordinary people from a wide variety of backgrounds have come together in the fight for truth and justice."
The film was co-written and produced by Paul Greengrass, who directed Bloody Sunday, directed by Pete Travis and stars Omagh-born actor Gerard McSorley as Michael Gallagher.
Mr Greengrass said Bloody Sunday and the Omagh bomb were the two events that framed the Troubles.
"Bloody Sunday (was) the moment at which progress towards conflict became unstoppable, and Omagh marked the moment when everyone knew the conflict had to end," he said.
Funding came from Channel Four, RTE and the Irish Film Board.
Omagh will be broadcast on RTE on Saturday May 22 and on Channel Four on Thursday May 27.
By Darran McCann
Tyrone correspondent
FAMILIES of the victims of the Omagh bomb gave their approval to a new film documenting their experiences at a special screening in Belfast last night.
The families saw Omagh, a new production made by the same team responsible for Bloody Sunday, twice yesterday.
The film concentrates on the story of Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden (21) was one of the 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, who died in the 1998 atrocity.
Mr Gallagher helped form and became a key spokesman for the Omagh Support and Self Help Group, made up of the victims' relatives.
"I hope this film will help bring our struggle to a wider audience who will get the message that hope comes out of despair," said Mr Gallagher as he arrived at the screening last night.
"I would like to think Omagh shows that in the midst of evil and wickedness, ordinary people from a wide variety of backgrounds have come together in the fight for truth and justice."
The film was co-written and produced by Paul Greengrass, who directed Bloody Sunday, directed by Pete Travis and stars Omagh-born actor Gerard McSorley as Michael Gallagher.
Mr Greengrass said Bloody Sunday and the Omagh bomb were the two events that framed the Troubles.
"Bloody Sunday (was) the moment at which progress towards conflict became unstoppable, and Omagh marked the moment when everyone knew the conflict had to end," he said.
Funding came from Channel Four, RTE and the Irish Film Board.
Omagh will be broadcast on RTE on Saturday May 22 and on Channel Four on Thursday May 27.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0620
Published Date: 10-May-04
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