WORDING OF MEMORIAL TO VICTIMS CONFIRMED
Wording of memorials to victims confirmed
By Claire Simpson
WORD1NG for memorial plaques to commemorate those killed or injured in the 1998 Omagh bombing was agreed by Omagh council last night.
An independent panel was asked by Omagh council to propose a wording for a plaque in the town following complaints from victims' families. The Sinn Fein dominated council wanted to amend the phrase "dissident republican car bomb" on the memorial.
But instead, the panel, headed by former Presbyterian moderator Dr John Dunlop has proposed three different wordings for three memorial plaques in Omagh.
It suggested a plaque should be set up at the site of the bomb in the town's main street, with one plaque on the street wall of the present memorial garden and another on walls inside the garden.
It recommended that the phrase "dissident republican terrorist car bomb" make up part of a lengthy narrative about the bombing inscribed inside the garden along with an alphabetical listing of the names, ages and home towns of those killed.
The memorial on the street wall should read: "Saturday 15 August 1998 at 3.10 pm. To honour and remember the 31 men, women and children who were killed, the hundreds injured and those whose lives were changed forever in the Omagh bomb. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:5)"
While a memorial at the site of the car bomb should read: "A car bomb exploded at this site on Saturday 15 August 1998 at 3.10 pm. This act of terror killed 31 people, injured hundreds, and changed forever the lives of many."
Omagh Support and Self Help Group spokesman, Michael Gallagher, who lost his son Aidan in the attack, said he was surprised the panel had recommended three plaques.
"To be honest we thought it would be a much simpler approach and they would recommend one wording either at one of the sites or all of the sites," he said.
"We are happy that the three-person team have felt that our wording should be retained in the garden.
"But if it's going to be put in an obscure location then we would have a degree of unhappiness about that."
By Claire Simpson
WORD1NG for memorial plaques to commemorate those killed or injured in the 1998 Omagh bombing was agreed by Omagh council last night.
An independent panel was asked by Omagh council to propose a wording for a plaque in the town following complaints from victims' families. The Sinn Fein dominated council wanted to amend the phrase "dissident republican car bomb" on the memorial.
But instead, the panel, headed by former Presbyterian moderator Dr John Dunlop has proposed three different wordings for three memorial plaques in Omagh.
It suggested a plaque should be set up at the site of the bomb in the town's main street, with one plaque on the street wall of the present memorial garden and another on walls inside the garden.
It recommended that the phrase "dissident republican terrorist car bomb" make up part of a lengthy narrative about the bombing inscribed inside the garden along with an alphabetical listing of the names, ages and home towns of those killed.
The memorial on the street wall should read: "Saturday 15 August 1998 at 3.10 pm. To honour and remember the 31 men, women and children who were killed, the hundreds injured and those whose lives were changed forever in the Omagh bomb. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:5)"
While a memorial at the site of the car bomb should read: "A car bomb exploded at this site on Saturday 15 August 1998 at 3.10 pm. This act of terror killed 31 people, injured hundreds, and changed forever the lives of many."
Omagh Support and Self Help Group spokesman, Michael Gallagher, who lost his son Aidan in the attack, said he was surprised the panel had recommended three plaques.
"To be honest we thought it would be a much simpler approach and they would recommend one wording either at one of the sites or all of the sites," he said.
"We are happy that the three-person team have felt that our wording should be retained in the garden.
"But if it's going to be put in an obscure location then we would have a degree of unhappiness about that."
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0902
Published Date: 07-Mar-08
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