NICHOLA'S JOY AT LITTLE MIRACLE
Nicola's joy at 'little miracle'
A YOUNG mother who has given birth after narrowly escaping death in the Omagh bombing said today she wanted her daughter to be a symbol of new hope for Northern Ireland.
"I hope she can grow up and be safe," said Nicola Emery, 21.
Cradling her 71b 6oz baby daughter, described as a ray of light in the darkness by the hospital, she said she wanted more than anything to see her grow up in a world free of violence.
"I feel so happy that she's all right.
"I hope she can grow up and there will be no violence or terrorism. I just want her to be safe," said Nicola, who suffered minor cuts to her legs in the blast.
Miss Emery, who gave birth on Thursday, said she had been terrified she would lose her baby after she was caught in the blast which killed 28 people and badly injured many more, including her mother Valerie.
Nicola, a Protestant and her partner Michael Mulholland, 17, a Roman Catholic, had been out shopping with her mother and her cousin when the bomb went off.
Cradling her sleeping baby in the maternity ward of the South Tyrone Hospital in Dungannon, she said: "I was worried for the baby straight away. I didn't know what to think.
"I was worrying about myself and my mum and my boyfriend and my cousin who was also there - and my baby."
She managed to find Michael and then saw her mother lying in the road, she said. They were taken to hospital by car.
Nicola's mother has severe leg injuries and is in Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital. But her thoughts have been only for her grandchild and whether she would be born safely.
"I phoned her as soon as I had the baby and she said 'good girl, that was the weight you were when you were born'."
But the happiness was tinged with thoughts of Avril Monaghan, who was killed in the blast and had been due to give birth to twins in the same hospital within the next few weeks.
"It must be so hard for the family. Our heart goes out to them," said Michael, who came from the same village as Avril - Clogher - and knew her.
But he said he hoped his child would grow up in a different world. "I hope that the wee girl can grow up without any violence, without bombs and can be safe."
Michael, who suffered a back injury, said: "We will tell her what happened and how special she is."
Doctors and midwives at the hospital described the child as "a ray of light in our darkness".
Senior consultant Ian Hunter, who has worked there for 15 years, said: "All babies are special but in these terrible circumstances this baby is even more special.
"It's a chink of light in the darkness.
"The twins would have been born here soon which is so terribly sad and we are all just delighted that something hopeful has come out of this."
Clinical nurse Robert Sowney said: "It's a glimmer of light in all that's happened. This new baby has been born out of the rubble of Omagh. We would hope she would grow up and never have to experience the scenes witnessed by her mother."
Nicola will take the baby, who has not yet been named, to see her mother as soon as possible, she said.
A YOUNG mother who has given birth after narrowly escaping death in the Omagh bombing said today she wanted her daughter to be a symbol of new hope for Northern Ireland.
"I hope she can grow up and be safe," said Nicola Emery, 21.
Cradling her 71b 6oz baby daughter, described as a ray of light in the darkness by the hospital, she said she wanted more than anything to see her grow up in a world free of violence.
"I feel so happy that she's all right.
"I hope she can grow up and there will be no violence or terrorism. I just want her to be safe," said Nicola, who suffered minor cuts to her legs in the blast.
Miss Emery, who gave birth on Thursday, said she had been terrified she would lose her baby after she was caught in the blast which killed 28 people and badly injured many more, including her mother Valerie.
Nicola, a Protestant and her partner Michael Mulholland, 17, a Roman Catholic, had been out shopping with her mother and her cousin when the bomb went off.
Cradling her sleeping baby in the maternity ward of the South Tyrone Hospital in Dungannon, she said: "I was worried for the baby straight away. I didn't know what to think.
"I was worrying about myself and my mum and my boyfriend and my cousin who was also there - and my baby."
She managed to find Michael and then saw her mother lying in the road, she said. They were taken to hospital by car.
Nicola's mother has severe leg injuries and is in Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital. But her thoughts have been only for her grandchild and whether she would be born safely.
"I phoned her as soon as I had the baby and she said 'good girl, that was the weight you were when you were born'."
But the happiness was tinged with thoughts of Avril Monaghan, who was killed in the blast and had been due to give birth to twins in the same hospital within the next few weeks.
"It must be so hard for the family. Our heart goes out to them," said Michael, who came from the same village as Avril - Clogher - and knew her.
But he said he hoped his child would grow up in a different world. "I hope that the wee girl can grow up without any violence, without bombs and can be safe."
Michael, who suffered a back injury, said: "We will tell her what happened and how special she is."
Doctors and midwives at the hospital described the child as "a ray of light in our darkness".
Senior consultant Ian Hunter, who has worked there for 15 years, said: "All babies are special but in these terrible circumstances this baby is even more special.
"It's a chink of light in the darkness.
"The twins would have been born here soon which is so terribly sad and we are all just delighted that something hopeful has come out of this."
Clinical nurse Robert Sowney said: "It's a glimmer of light in all that's happened. This new baby has been born out of the rubble of Omagh. We would hope she would grow up and never have to experience the scenes witnessed by her mother."
Nicola will take the baby, who has not yet been named, to see her mother as soon as possible, she said.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/082
Published Date: 22-Aug-98
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