OMAGH FAMILIES STUNNED OVER CLERGY BOYCOTT
Omagh families stunned over clergy 'boycott'
BY DAVID YOUNG
CHURCH leaders in Omagh are to stay away from a 10th anniversary service for victims of the bomb, it has emerged.
Clergy from the four main denominations in the town have rejected an invitation to attend next Sunday's memorial event organised by some families of the 29 people who died in the Real IRA attack.
The main representatives from the town's Presbyterian, Methodist, Church of Ireland and Catholic churches will instead attend an alternative service staged by Omagh District Council next Friday at which former Lebanon hostage Terry Waite will give an address.
The move comes amid a growing row over plans for the anniversary of the bloodiest atrocity in the history of the Northern Ireland troubles. At least 10 families are boycotting Friday's council-run event, which will take place on the date of the bombing in protest at how plans for new memorials were handled.
Michael Gallagher, chair of the family support group organising the Sunday service, said relatives had been stunned by the rejection from the churchmen.
"Some of these clergy buried our loved ones," he said.
"We can't believe they aren't coming. They are boycotting and marginalising the families."
Mr Gallagher said representatives from the main churches had attended the group's Sunday service for the last four years.
"I would have thought they could have at least attended both events for the sake of balance," he said.
The Rev John Murdoch from Omagh Presbyterian Church said he and the other church leaders had agreed unanimously that it was more appropriate for them to attend the council event.
"We decided that we would support the main event on the Friday. That is the official one, the one on the Sunday is not official," he said.
In lieu of the clergymen, the support group has asked a British army padre based at Ballykinlar and an Omagh-born Catholic priest who now ministers in Wales to officiate at their service.
The families who are staying away from the Friday event are unhappy at how the council handled the contentious issue of the wording for new memorials erected at the bomb site on the town's Market Street and at a nearby garden of remembrance.
Kevin Skelton, who lost his wife Philomena, said he would have no part of the council event.
"There's a whole range of issues I've got problems with," he said.
"The whole wording issue and some of the politicians that are going to be there - I think they've (the council) have made a real mess of it altogether.
"They certainly didn't consult with us about the event.
"There are more than 10 families who won't be there. I have no objection with a family going, it's their choice, but I certainly won't be part of it."
Members of the support group had demanded the retention of a phrase engraved on an original tribute stone, which has since been removed from the garden of remembrance, stating that the victims were "murdered by a dissident republican terrorist car bomb".
Chairperson of Omagh council Martin McLoughlin said it was a pity some families had decided not to attend.
BY DAVID YOUNG
CHURCH leaders in Omagh are to stay away from a 10th anniversary service for victims of the bomb, it has emerged.
Clergy from the four main denominations in the town have rejected an invitation to attend next Sunday's memorial event organised by some families of the 29 people who died in the Real IRA attack.
The main representatives from the town's Presbyterian, Methodist, Church of Ireland and Catholic churches will instead attend an alternative service staged by Omagh District Council next Friday at which former Lebanon hostage Terry Waite will give an address.
The move comes amid a growing row over plans for the anniversary of the bloodiest atrocity in the history of the Northern Ireland troubles. At least 10 families are boycotting Friday's council-run event, which will take place on the date of the bombing in protest at how plans for new memorials were handled.
Michael Gallagher, chair of the family support group organising the Sunday service, said relatives had been stunned by the rejection from the churchmen.
"Some of these clergy buried our loved ones," he said.
"We can't believe they aren't coming. They are boycotting and marginalising the families."
Mr Gallagher said representatives from the main churches had attended the group's Sunday service for the last four years.
"I would have thought they could have at least attended both events for the sake of balance," he said.
The Rev John Murdoch from Omagh Presbyterian Church said he and the other church leaders had agreed unanimously that it was more appropriate for them to attend the council event.
"We decided that we would support the main event on the Friday. That is the official one, the one on the Sunday is not official," he said.
In lieu of the clergymen, the support group has asked a British army padre based at Ballykinlar and an Omagh-born Catholic priest who now ministers in Wales to officiate at their service.
The families who are staying away from the Friday event are unhappy at how the council handled the contentious issue of the wording for new memorials erected at the bomb site on the town's Market Street and at a nearby garden of remembrance.
Kevin Skelton, who lost his wife Philomena, said he would have no part of the council event.
"There's a whole range of issues I've got problems with," he said.
"The whole wording issue and some of the politicians that are going to be there - I think they've (the council) have made a real mess of it altogether.
"They certainly didn't consult with us about the event.
"There are more than 10 families who won't be there. I have no objection with a family going, it's their choice, but I certainly won't be part of it."
Members of the support group had demanded the retention of a phrase engraved on an original tribute stone, which has since been removed from the garden of remembrance, stating that the victims were "murdered by a dissident republican terrorist car bomb".
Chairperson of Omagh council Martin McLoughlin said it was a pity some families had decided not to attend.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL10An/03
Published Date: 09-Aug-08
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