3 NAMES WITHHELD FROM BOMB MEMORIAL
3 names withheld from bomb memorial
By Seamus McKinney
RELATIVES of three Omagh bombing victims have withheld permission for their loved ones' names to be inscribed on a new memorial. The names will not appear on a list of the dead engraved on the walls inside a memorial garden close to the scene of the 1998 Real IRA bomb which killed 29 people including a woman pregnant with twins.
The latest development came as it emerged that Church leaders in Omagh are to snub a 10th anniversary service organised by some families next Sunday.
Representatives of the four main Churches will instead attend a service staged by Omagh District Council next Friday. At least 10 families are boycotting the event in protest at how plans for new memorials were handled. Michael Gallagher, who is chair of the group organising the Sunday service, said relatives had been stunned by the development. "Some of these clergy buried our loved ones. We can't believe they aren't coming," he said.
Rev John Murdoch, a Presbyterian Church minister in Omagh, said he and the other Church leaders had agreed that it was more appropriate for them to attend the council event.
Meanwhile, Laurence Rush, whose wife Libby was killed in the bomb attack, confirmed that her name would be one of the three missing from the list. Mr Rush said he did not require a monument to remember his wife. He also said he was unhappy with the way the council had handled the event. Relatives of the other two victims could not be contacted last night.
By Seamus McKinney
RELATIVES of three Omagh bombing victims have withheld permission for their loved ones' names to be inscribed on a new memorial. The names will not appear on a list of the dead engraved on the walls inside a memorial garden close to the scene of the 1998 Real IRA bomb which killed 29 people including a woman pregnant with twins.
The latest development came as it emerged that Church leaders in Omagh are to snub a 10th anniversary service organised by some families next Sunday.
Representatives of the four main Churches will instead attend a service staged by Omagh District Council next Friday. At least 10 families are boycotting the event in protest at how plans for new memorials were handled. Michael Gallagher, who is chair of the group organising the Sunday service, said relatives had been stunned by the development. "Some of these clergy buried our loved ones. We can't believe they aren't coming," he said.
Rev John Murdoch, a Presbyterian Church minister in Omagh, said he and the other Church leaders had agreed that it was more appropriate for them to attend the council event.
Meanwhile, Laurence Rush, whose wife Libby was killed in the bomb attack, confirmed that her name would be one of the three missing from the list. Mr Rush said he did not require a monument to remember his wife. He also said he was unhappy with the way the council had handled the event. Relatives of the other two victims could not be contacted last night.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN10An/14
Published Date: 09-Aug-08
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