THE OMAGH EFFECT - RELATIVES SPEAK OUT
The Omagh effect: The relatives speak out
A MOTHER whose teenage son was killed in the Omagh bomb was subjected to intimidation after the atrocity, she told the High Court yesterday. Marion Radford also told how her pain and suffering has been so great she sometimes no longer wants to go on living.
Other relatives giving evidence at the multi-million pound compensation case spoke of insomnia, nightmares, heavy drinking and fraught personal relationships since the devastating terrorist attack.
Mrs Radford and 16-year-old Alan, who she described as her son and best friend, had been separated when the bomb went off, the court heard.
She suffered head injuries but went looking for him amid the carnage. "There was a terrible silence after the bomb then I heard screams," she said. "I was aware of bits of bodies on the ground but I didn't want to look." Later, at the hospital, she recalled further horrific scenes, telling Brett Lockhart QC, for the families taking the action: "There were bits of limbs on trolleys, people maybe sorting out what belonged to who.
"I just found it hard to cope with. I kept going out to every ambulance looking to see if Alan was on it." It was the following day when confirmation came that the teenager was among the dead, with the mother of six saying the reality only hit her when he was brought home in a box.
Mrs Radford, who lives alone, spoke of the "dreadful loneliness" she still endures, and how she struggles to put on a front around people.
"There's days I just don't want to live anyway," she admitted.
"I see my children suffer as well and that's hard for a mother. It will go through another generation to my grandchildren who see their parents' suffer."
She also spoke of intimidation being directed at her family following the bombing and how she would move to Scotland if it did not mean leaving her family.
"There was a republican flag put up on my roof," she said.
"I was going to move but I can't move because I have good memories here of Alan."
Denise Kerrigan, whose sister Lorraine Wilson (15) was also killed in the bombing, said she drinks to get to sleep.
"It's not easy knowing she's not going to be there, even if its 10 years or 20 years," Mrs Kerrigan said.
"I keep going back to when she was lying on the table.
"There was a wee tear drop of blood in her eye.
"My father got a tissue and took it and has kept it ever since."
A MOTHER whose teenage son was killed in the Omagh bomb was subjected to intimidation after the atrocity, she told the High Court yesterday. Marion Radford also told how her pain and suffering has been so great she sometimes no longer wants to go on living.
Other relatives giving evidence at the multi-million pound compensation case spoke of insomnia, nightmares, heavy drinking and fraught personal relationships since the devastating terrorist attack.
Mrs Radford and 16-year-old Alan, who she described as her son and best friend, had been separated when the bomb went off, the court heard.
She suffered head injuries but went looking for him amid the carnage. "There was a terrible silence after the bomb then I heard screams," she said. "I was aware of bits of bodies on the ground but I didn't want to look." Later, at the hospital, she recalled further horrific scenes, telling Brett Lockhart QC, for the families taking the action: "There were bits of limbs on trolleys, people maybe sorting out what belonged to who.
"I just found it hard to cope with. I kept going out to every ambulance looking to see if Alan was on it." It was the following day when confirmation came that the teenager was among the dead, with the mother of six saying the reality only hit her when he was brought home in a box.
Mrs Radford, who lives alone, spoke of the "dreadful loneliness" she still endures, and how she struggles to put on a front around people.
"There's days I just don't want to live anyway," she admitted.
"I see my children suffer as well and that's hard for a mother. It will go through another generation to my grandchildren who see their parents' suffer."
She also spoke of intimidation being directed at her family following the bombing and how she would move to Scotland if it did not mean leaving her family.
"There was a republican flag put up on my roof," she said.
"I was going to move but I can't move because I have good memories here of Alan."
Denise Kerrigan, whose sister Lorraine Wilson (15) was also killed in the bombing, said she drinks to get to sleep.
"It's not easy knowing she's not going to be there, even if its 10 years or 20 years," Mrs Kerrigan said.
"I keep going back to when she was lying on the table.
"There was a wee tear drop of blood in her eye.
"My father got a tissue and took it and has kept it ever since."
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0943
Published Date: 04-Jun-08
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