SURVIVORS OF BOMBS UNITE TO PEN BOOKLET ON TRAUMA
Survivors of bombs unite to pen booklet on trauma
By Roddy McGregor
SURVIVORS and relatives of those killed in the Omagh and Claudy bombings are to join forces to produce a booklet outlining their experiences of trauma.
They will be brought together on May 17 by Derry's Shared City Initiative for the 'Make Mine The Last' Community Relations Council-supported project which aims to document the suffering of families as an educational resource to young people. Members of both groups will launch the project at Omagh's Silver Birch Hotel.
Nine people, including three children, were killed when three IRA bombs exploded without warning in the Co Derry village of Claudy on July 31 1972.
No-one has ever been charged in connection with the bombing. There have been calls for a full public inquiry into the atrocity following repeated claims that a Catholic priest, who died in 1980, was involved.
In Omagh in August 1998 a Real IRA bomb killed 29 people including a woman pregnant with twins. Last night it emerged that a man is to be charged with the murders.
Bereaved families have fought a long campaign to raise funds to bring those they believe to be responsible before the courts in a civil action.
Shared City Project spokeswoman Jeanette Warke said the booklet would help drive home to young people the "meaningless" of violence as a means of resolving political problems.
"Having themselves in many ways paid the ultimate price in the course of the Troubles, they have a relevant role to play in the prevention of future atrocities," she said.
"They will meet and share stories, photographs, memories and experiences and help support each other. In some ways they have moved on from their tragedies but in many other ways they have been left behind."
Ms Warke said everyone in Northern Ireland could learn lessons from the "common feelings and pain" suffered by victims of the bombings.
"This book will remind us all, but especially young people, of the horror of the two atrocities because there are already some young people who do not even know there was a bombing in Claudy," she said.
Ms Warke said she hoped to extend the scheme to involve relatives and survivors of the Dublin/Monaghan and Enniskillen bombings.
"It will provide a springboard for linking with these groups and others around the world who want to see an end to pain, grief and suffering caused by the struggle that enveloped our island and so many similar violent struggles around the world," she said.
By Roddy McGregor
SURVIVORS and relatives of those killed in the Omagh and Claudy bombings are to join forces to produce a booklet outlining their experiences of trauma.
They will be brought together on May 17 by Derry's Shared City Initiative for the 'Make Mine The Last' Community Relations Council-supported project which aims to document the suffering of families as an educational resource to young people. Members of both groups will launch the project at Omagh's Silver Birch Hotel.
Nine people, including three children, were killed when three IRA bombs exploded without warning in the Co Derry village of Claudy on July 31 1972.
No-one has ever been charged in connection with the bombing. There have been calls for a full public inquiry into the atrocity following repeated claims that a Catholic priest, who died in 1980, was involved.
In Omagh in August 1998 a Real IRA bomb killed 29 people including a woman pregnant with twins. Last night it emerged that a man is to be charged with the murders.
Bereaved families have fought a long campaign to raise funds to bring those they believe to be responsible before the courts in a civil action.
Shared City Project spokeswoman Jeanette Warke said the booklet would help drive home to young people the "meaningless" of violence as a means of resolving political problems.
"Having themselves in many ways paid the ultimate price in the course of the Troubles, they have a relevant role to play in the prevention of future atrocities," she said.
"They will meet and share stories, photographs, memories and experiences and help support each other. In some ways they have moved on from their tragedies but in many other ways they have been left behind."
Ms Warke said everyone in Northern Ireland could learn lessons from the "common feelings and pain" suffered by victims of the bombings.
"This book will remind us all, but especially young people, of the horror of the two atrocities because there are already some young people who do not even know there was a bombing in Claudy," she said.
Ms Warke said she hoped to extend the scheme to involve relatives and survivors of the Dublin/Monaghan and Enniskillen bombings.
"It will provide a springboard for linking with these groups and others around the world who want to see an end to pain, grief and suffering caused by the struggle that enveloped our island and so many similar violent struggles around the world," she said.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0738
Published Date: 05-May-05
Related Images
